By Robert Todd
A World Health Organization warning that no one under 18 should use a sun bed has some representatives of the tanning salon industry feeling burned.
The United Nations’ specialized health agency cites studies showing a direct link between the use of sun beds and cancer. Young people burned from exposure to ultraviolet radiation, which is given off by sun beds, are also more likely to develop melanoma as adults, the WHO says.
But members of the tanning industry say the warning goes too far.
“If a parent came in with a child 12 or 13 years old, I wouldn’t allow it,” says Natalie Kennedy, owner of A Touch of Sun on Slater Street. “Other than that, I think it should be the parent’s choice. People shouldn’t be told what to do by the WHO.”
Kennedy ensures all her clients are well-informed and safe. Her customers must be at least 18-years-old, or accompanied by a parent. She also provides free eye protection.
While most of her clients are between 30- and 50-years-old, Kennedy says she has noticed a drop in volume. She attributes the decrease to the WHO warning.
“They didn’t talk to any of us from the industry,” she says. “They didn’t take us into consideration at all.”
“If you tan stupidly you will damage your body,” says Lise Villeneuve of Sunburst Tanning Centre on Bank Street. She says the practise is safe as long as the proper precautions are taken.
Sunburst’s clients pay a flat rate of $12, unlike most salons where tanners pay for a specific amount of time in a sun bed. Sunburst employees consider a person’s skin type and then assign them a safe amount of time in the sun bed, she says.
People with pink or red skin are not permitted to tan at the salon, says Villeneuve. Tanners must also apply protective lotion to prevent burning and wear eye protection, she says.
“The WHO warning would have been better if it gave people knowledge, rather than fear,” says Villeneuve.
While she has received a number of inquiries from people over 18 about the WHO warning, Villeneuve says it’s too early to tell if Sunburst is experiencing a drop in volume.
The tanning industry may oppose the WHO warning, but the health organization lists a number of findings to back up its position.
The number of people infected with melanoma has doubled in the United States in the past 30 years. The WHO estimates that worldwide 66,000 people die annually from malignant melanoma and other skin cancers.
The highest infection rates are found in countries where people are fair-skinned and where tanning is culturally encouraged, says the WHO. It has singled out Australia, New Zealand, North America, and northern Europe as having the most vulnerable citizens.
“Growth in the use of sun beds, combined with the desire and fashion to have a tan, are considered the prime reasons behind this fast growth in skin cancers,” says a WHO news release.
In light of these discoveries, the organization has suggested that countries introduce legislative measures prohibiting minors from tanning.
Canadian tanning operators and the equipment they use are currently regulated under the federal Radiation Emitting Devices Act.
No age restriction is currently enforced and such a regulation is beyond the powers of Health Canada, says spokesperson Carole Saindon.
“The Radiation Emitting Devices Act doesn’t cover usage, which age comes under,” she says. “So it doesn’t come under Health Canada’s purview.”
Health Canada does, however, have guidelines for manufacturers of sun bed equipment and salon operators. Outlets that fail to follow the instructions, which include a recommendation not to use sun beds on individuals under 16 years old, are not penalzed.
While no plans are in the works to legislate a minimum age requirement for tanning salons, Saindon says Health Canada supports the WHO warning.
“It is proven now the link between UV and skin damage and skin cancer in some cases,” she says. “It’s sensible advice and it recommends guidelines that make absolute sense.”