There is still confusion in Wales over the safety of sunbeds
Sunbed use has increased rapidly in Wales over the past decade (photo by Whatsername via Flickr)
There is “no safe level” of tanning bed use, according to Dr Ian Lewis, head of research at Cardiff-based cancer charity Tenovus.
Under-18s in Wales are prohibited from using sunbeds, and October 31 saw a country-wide ban on unmanned tanning salons, but Dr Lewis feels that misinformation remains around the subject.
“Many people still believe that sunbeds can be good for you, but all the evidence shows that they are actually quite dangerous, and could be the cause of many deaths due to skin cancer each year,” he said.
Dr Lewis favours an information campaign over an outright ban on adult sunbed use.
“We believe people should be educated to the dangers and risk of using sunbeds so that they can make a true informed choice regarding their own health,” he said.
