Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:48:0
Ayinde O. Chase - AHN Editor
London, England (AHN) - In an effort to have a healthy glow in climates where the sun rarely shines, children are turning to artificial tanning beds to get a sun crisp look. However according to a recent study of children in England nearly a quarter of a million 11-17 year olds are being put at increased risk of developing malignant melanoma by using the "sunbeds."
Catherine Thomson from Cancer Research UK and Professor Chris Twelves from Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine and St James's University Hospital in Leeds, say the tanning beds pose serious issues. The results of the study has prompted health advocates to call for legislation to stop children in England using the "sunbeds."
Health officials want to increase the minimum age to using the devices to 18. Furthermore, proponents for the laws want to shut down coin operated machines and close down unsupervised salons. Laws are already enacted in portions of the UK such as Scotland while Wales has laws already proposed to lawmakers.
Proponents for the laws point to two studies, recently carried out by Cancer Research UK involving over 9000 children aged 11-17 in England. The first, a national prevalence study of 3101 children, found that 6 percent of 11-17 year olds had used a tanning bed, the average age of first use being just 14. The study also found that it was more prevalent in older children and girls, in the north (11 percent) compared with the rest of England (4 percent) and among deprived communities. Startlingly over a quarter (26.5 percent) said that they used a tanning bed at least once a month.
In the second study of 6209 children in six cities, researchers found children in Liverpool and Sunderland, used the devices the most. In those cities, 51 percent and 48 percent respectively among 15-17 year old girls were the most users and over 40 lay down for an artificial tan weekly.
Authors of the study say that if the rates of use continue in their current trends it could lead to more than an estimated quarter of a million 11-17 year olds being put at increased risk of developing malignant melanoma.
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