Krebshilfe warns against skin cancer caused by solarium

Every year around 800 deaths of solarium visitors due to skin cancer occur throughout Europe

05/10/2012

After a beach holiday in summer, especially young women like to lie down on the sunbed to get their tan. Doctors and scientists, however, urgently warn against the artificial tan. The risk of developing aggressive black skin cancer, the so-called malignant melanoma, doubles on the tanning bed.

Black skin cancer is especially dangerous
Around 800 solarium users die of melanoma in Europe every year due to frequent browning“, reports Hans-Peter Krämer, CEO of the German Cancer Aid. „Therefore, it is important for us, especially young people, to specifically inform about this easily preventable cancer risk factor.“ In total, around 224,000 new cases of skin cancer occur in Germany each year. In about 26,000 cases it is the most dangerous black skin cancer. According to the German Cancer Aid, around 3,000 melanoma patients die each year „from the consequences of her tumor disease“. The malignant melanoma is so dangerous because it forms at a very early stage daughter tumors and is difficult to cure. More and more young people, especially young women, are affected by black skin cancer.

UV radiation causes the skin to age and causes skin cancer
According to the „Sun Study 2012“ 3,500 cases of melanoma totaling nearly 64,000 new cases in 18 Western European countries are directly attributable to the use of tanning beds. Around 800 deaths a year are attributed to solariums in these countries. „The need for information in Germany on the risk of skin cancer caused by solariums is high ", explains Gerd Nettekoven, Chief Executive of the German Cancer Aid." It is particularly frightening that 167,000 of the current sunbed users are not yet of legal age. "However, since 2009 access to minors is prohibited under current law Krebshilfe therefore calls for stricter controls. „Young people hope to increase their well-being and attractiveness through a visit to the solarium. However, they severely underestimate the risk of skin cancer caused by the UV rays of the solarium devices“, reports Nettekoven. Especially for young people, the German Cancer Aid has compiled information on the topic of skin cancer and solariums on the website www.rosi-hat-schwein-gehabt.de. Using an app for smartphones, users can age their friends in fast motion and experience the increasing skin aging as a visible consequence of intense intense UV rays. (Ag)

Also read about skin cancer:
Red spots may indicate light skin cancer
For fair skin already in the morning sunburn danger
Skin cancer: Dangerous spring sun in bald head
White skin cancer is rapidly increasing
Dangerous black skin cancer

Picture credits: manwalk