4.The incidence of skin cancer is increasing; malignant melanoma is among the five most common cancers in 15-24 year olds in England and Wales. Approximately 80% of melanomas are thought to be caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light – both natural (from the sun) and artificial. In 2003, the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued the guide “Artificial Tanning Sunbeds: Risks and Guidance” to assist government health authorities in the development of public health policy relating to sunbeds. The guide says that there is increasing evidence from both experimental and epidemiological data that cumulative exposure to UV radiation increases the risk of skin cancers. Therefore, the added exposure from UV tanning appliances is likely to add to the detrimental consequences of natural solar exposure. The guide includes a recommendation that no one under the age of 18 should use a sunbed.
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