Call for age curb on tanning beds

Barbara Maregele

SUNbeds are becoming so popular that the Cancer Association of South Africa wants under-18s banned from using them.

Research shows at least 80 percent of sun-screen damage occurs before the age of 18 and only manifests later in life.

“We started this petition on tanning beds based on the research done by the World Health Organisation (WHO) where tanning beds were directly linked to skin cancer,” said Lucy Balona, an executive manager at Cansa.

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in South Africa with about 20 000 reported cases every year and approximately 700 deaths related to the condition, says Cansa.

The Cansa awareness drive is in the process of collecting 50 000 signatures to take to the Department of Health.

“The beds emit direct UV rays so there is no protection for the skin,” said Balona.

The UV-smart armband is a new initiative started by the association to aid in preventing skin cancer in South Africa. The armband monitors UV rays the skin is being exposed to and gets darker in colour as sun exposure becomes more harmful.

“We can’t see UV rays and how much you are being exposed to, this is why we launched the armbands in winter and we’re hoping to get our petition done in time,” said Balona.

She said Cansa was hoping to hand over the petition to the Department of Health by February to form part of World Cancer Day.

At one of Cape Town’s tanning studio rooms a bronzed Alexandra Chaves emerges after only five minutes in the artificial “sun room”.

Chaves, a 22-year-old client at Bronze International tanning studio in Gardens, goes for a tan between three to four times a week.

“I know that tanning can be dangerous, but when I don’t tan I choose not to go out.”

She said the problem most people faced with regard to tanning beds was caused by the salon’s negligence and by the clients misusing the machines.

The owner of Bronze International tanning studio in Gardens, Janine Janse van Rensburg, said was aware of the dangers of tanning beds.

She explained how the “growing trend” could be used safely, but she was aware of extreme cases where people were abusing the “luxury” of tanning.

Many of her clients worked during the day and did not have the time to tan in the sun, she said.

“They come to the tanning studio just before they go on holiday, when they have to attend an event or just to look good at the beach.

“My policy is to never allow clients in the tanning bed for more than 15 minutes a session. I make sure the staff clean the machines themselves (using) special detergents and have never had a problem with any of our clients concerning the tans”, she said.

barbara.maregele@inl.co.za