Sunbed ban 'will definitely reduce skin cancer threat'
Research published last year revealed that six per cent of children aged between 11 and 17 have used a sunbed, a figure which was expected to rise over the next few year, but the government has unveiled new measures designed to reduce the number of skin cancer cases in the UK.
Health secretary Andy Burnham said that he will back a private members bill which is seeking to ban under 18s from using sunbeds.
Similar initiatives have proved successful in other areas of the UK and the government said that such a measure will hopefully have an impact on the 10,000 cases of malignant melanoma diagnosed every year in the UK, which is the most dangerous form of skin cancer.
Research has shown that young women will benefit most from a sunbed ban and the measure has been welcomed by Rebecca Freeman, a spokeswoman for the British Association of Dermatologists.
She told cancer cover holders: "The government's support for the most recent sunbeds bill, in which under 18s will be banned from using tanning machines, is certainly a step in the right direction in the fight against skin cancer."
The expert added that adults have the right to choose what risks they expose themselves to, but pointed out that a ban on young people using sunbeds may spur them into stopping using the machines.
Mr Burnham said that it is currently "far too easy" for young people to go on sunbeds, even though they have been proved to be linked to malignant melanoma and added that he "fully supports" the bill.
Ms Freeman told cancer insurance customers: "It is important for people to understand the risks that these machines pose so that they can make informed decisions about using them."
Posted by James McCann
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