HSE issues warning over sunbed use as skin cancer diagnoses rise above 11,000
The HSE has said there are 'lessons to be learnt' from Australia, where a ban on commercial sunbeds has been in place since 2016.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Ireland, with more than 11,000 cases diagnosed every year.
An event is being held by the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) and the Institute of Public Health (IPH) to discuss sunbed use in Ireland and explore future options for reducing skin cancer in Ireland
"Skin cancer is a significant public health problem in Ireland,' public health specialist for the NCCP Dr Breeda Neville said.
"The majority of skin cancers are caused by UV exposure, which means that skin cancer is largely preventable by protecting your skin from the sun's UV rays and by not using sunbeds.'
Skin cancer diagnoses include cases of both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer.
Selling or hiring a sunbed to anyone under 18 is already illegal in Ireland, while a mandate to 'explore ways to ban commercial sunbed use' is included in the Programme for Government.
The HSE has said using a sunbed is 'never safe' and exposing the skin to UV radiation from the sun or sunbeds damages skin cells, accelerates visible signs of ageing and increases the risk of developing skin cancer.
'There is a precedent for the successful banning of sunbeds. Australia introduced an outright ban on commercial sunbeds in 2016,' Craig Sinclair of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said at the event.
"The measure has enjoyed strong public support and has undoubtedly prevented thousands of skin cancers and delivered an estimated saving of over AU$64 million to the Australian Health system.'
The use of UV-emitting devices like sunbeds is classified as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). An IARC study has found using a sunbed for the first time before the age of 35 can increase the risk of developing melanoma skin cancer by 75pc.
'We have recently undertaken a comprehensive assessment of sunbed use in Ireland,' Minister of State for Public Health Jennifer Murnane O'Connor said.
"The findings will inform the National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan and provide policy options to reduce skin cancer risk. The Institute of Public Health looks forward to publishing our report in the coming weeks.'
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