Tánaiste Micheál Martin has backed calls to ban sunbeds in Ireland, saying that they are as harmful as passive smoking and asbestos.
His comments come after a recent survey showed a significant proportion of the Irish population continues to use sunbeds, despite knowing the health risks.
The study, carried out by Cork-based doctors and researchers, found that almost half of the people surveyed said they have used sunbeds despite knowing the risks to their skin, and many who sunbathe believe it is worth getting ‘slightly sunburned’ to get a tan.
The largest of its kind in Ireland, the study was led by senior author Professor Michelle Murphy at South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital and University College Cork, with 1,043 people taking part in it.
Out of these participants, 10.6% had used a sunbed in the year up to December 2020, with an average of eight sessions each. Some 41.5% have used sunbeds at any time.
Meanwhile, 69.4% said they feel and look better with a tan. They like to sunbathe to boost their vitamin D supply or while socialising, while some said they need a tan for their job or hobby. Nearly 80% feel they know what to do to avoid getting sunburnt, but 49% said they sunbathe.
The most common reason (44.9%) for not using sunscreen is because it is inconvenient.
Skin cancer risks
Speaking after the study, Professor Caitriona Ryan, co-founder of the Institute of Dermatologists, told the Irish Examiner that using a sunbed is “a really, really dangerous thing to do”.
“We know that having been on a sunbed for even one session can increase your melanoma risk by up to 60%,” she said.
The advent of self-tanning products changed the dynamic away from sunbeds, particularly among young women, she noted, but not for everyone.
“Guys have really gotten into using the gym in Ireland, so especially those in their teens or 20s, they want to show off their muscles, but not their ‘white, pasty skin’ so it seems like a lot of men have taken to using sunbeds as well. They would not use fake tan.”
Professor Ryan urged people to wear sunscreen in Ireland, even on cloudy days. “I think if people think they are actually going to get burnt they put sunscreen on,” she said. “But for the long-term exposure, not so much. The vast majority of our skin cancer in Ireland is face and hands because those parts of you are exposed to daily sun.”
Skin cancer is the most common form of the disease in Ireland, with nearly 13,000 instances reported annually. The Irish Cancer Society has also said sunbeds are not safer than sun tanning, stressing that they won’t protect you from sunburn or damage to your skin from sunbathing.
Public sunscreen dispensers have been put in place around Ireland this summer as part of the HSE’s latest sun awareness campaign, following a successful pilot programme in 2023.
According to the National Cancer Care Programme, the scheme is aimed at encouraging people, particularly those working outdoors or spending long periods outside recreationally, to use sunscreen more frequently.
