Skin charity backs sunbed campaign

A SKIN cancer charity is backing moves for a clampdown on the use of sunbeds.

National Skin charity, the Skin Care Campaign, is petitioning the Government to ban the use of sunbeds for under 18s and to get rid of coin-operated sunbeds as rates of skin cancer continue to soar.

And Oldham skin cancer charity, factor 50, is urging Oldhamers to get involved.

The campaign, which builds on work by a host of other charities including Cancer Research UK, comes as the International Agency for Research into Cancer (IARC) placed sunbeds in the highest risk category for causing cancer — making them as dangerous as asbestos.

Skin cancer is now the most common form of cancer in the UK and the rate at which people die from the disease is increasing by 10 per cent each year.

Gill Nuttall, fund-raising manager for factor 50, said: “Factor 50 strongly supports any move to ban sunbeds. I was at a conference recently and one of the scientists there explained that he believes that skin cancer will be the next asbestosis. For me, it a very frightening and sobering thought.

“I would urge anyone using sunbeds to seriously reconsider their actions.

“International experts have said quite clearly that using sunbeds or sun lamps will increase the risk of skin cancer. This can’t be ignored.

“There are much safer and probably cheaper ways to obtain a tan. The quality of false tanning products is now very good indeed, so there is no need to damage your skin using sunbeds.”

Find the petition at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Sun-beds/ 

Find you more about factor 50 at www.factor50.org.uk 

Have you ever had a nasty experience using a sunbed? Have you contracted cancer as a result of using sunbeds? Get in contact by emailing jenniferhollamby@oldham-chronicle.co.uk.