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For those who begin using sunbeds before the age of 35, the risk of skin cancer can jump by 75%.
The HSE Midwest is urging Limerick residents to abandon sunbeds, labelling them as dangerous as tobacco and asbestos.
Bernadette Mullins, Cancer Prevention Officer for the region, highlighted the severe health risks on Live 95’s Limerick Today ahead of a national HSE webinar on sunbed safety scheduled for this Wednesday, May 20th.
Mullins says that sunbeds are classified as Class One carcinogens, meaning they are proven to cause cancer.
She said that even a single session can increase the risk of developing melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, by 20%.
“Tanned skin is actually damaged skin,” Mullins warned. “We associate being tanned with being healthy, but it is a sign that your cells are under attack from UV radiation.”
The HSE have addressed several persistent misconceptions that drive sunbed use in Ireland.
The “Base Tan” Myth of using a sunbed to prepare for a holiday does not protect the skin from burning abroad.
While some believe sunbeds help with eczema or psoriasis, Mullins stressed that unregulated UV exposure can worsen skin issues and urged patients to see a dermatologist instead.
Sunbeds are not a recommended or safe source for Vitamin D.
Mullins said it is strictly illegal for anyone under 18 to use, hire, or be sold a sunbed session.
Despite the Public Health Sunbeds Act 2014, some minors avoid the law by using fake IDs or hiring sunbeds for private home use.
The HSE Environmental Health Service continues to monitor operators through mystery shopper checks, with over 400 infringements recorded in 2023 alone.
The majority of people in Ireland fall into “Type 1” or “Type 2” on the Fitzpatrick Skin Scale, meaning they have pale skin, freckles, or red hair.
These skin types are the most prone to UV damage, yet skin cancer remains the most common cancer in the country, often because people underestimate the strength of the Irish sun between March and October.
The HSE is advising the public to avoid sunbeds, be sun smart, check your skin for changes in moles or skin spots and choose fake tanning products as an alternative to sunbeds.
Listen to the full interview below.