Ugly face of sunbeds is unmasked

A HARD-hitting campaign to urge young Scots to stop using sunbeds has been launched as figures reveal the number of cases of skin cancer has tripled.

Every day, an average of three people in Scotland are diagnosed with malignant melanoma – the most serious form of skin cancer – with the majority regular sunbed users.

Cancer Research experts have revealed they are to tour Scotland with a pioneering UV skin scanner to warn sunbed users about the serious damage they are doing to their skin and tell them they are at high risk.

They will target 15 to 35 year-olds, the age group with the highest sunbed use, to encourage them to stop exposing their skin to damaging UV light.

The charity said Scotland had the highest rate of malignant melanoma in 15 to 35-year-olds in the UK. Cases have risen from 2.1 per 100,000 in this age group in the late 1970s to eight per 100,000.

The campaign, run in partnership with the Scottish Government, will see the experts tour shopping centres with the machines to let people see first-hand how damaged their skin might be.

The machines offer in-depth images of faces and can show clusters of serious skin damage which can lead to cancer.

Cancer Research UK’s public affairs manager in Scotland, Vicky Crichton, said: “Using sunbeds can make your skin coarse, leathery and wrinkly. The UV rays from a sunbed can also damage the DNA in your skin. We’d like sunbed users to come and take a look for themselves at some of the damage that may be lurking under their skin.”

She said people did not have to be regular sunbed users to be at risk; using the beds infrequently can be damaging even if people use sun screen.

The charity said many Scots increased their sunbed use during the winter to seek “a healthy glow” and the “R UV Ugly” campaign would start next week.

Michael Matheson, minister for public health, said: “Avoiding sunbed use really could save your life. That is why this campaign is so important in highlighting how sunbed use can damage your skin and increase your risk of getting skin cancer.”

An average of 1,100 people of all ages are diagnosed with the disease every year.

Case study: ‘Tan gave me a healthy glow …never again’

JACQUI Carruther says her love of sun worshipping – and sunbeds – led to her developing malignant melenoma.

The mother of one was diagnosed with the cancer in 2009 just after her son, Jude, was born. Doctors removed a mole from her back that had begun to change colour and become raised.

Ms Carruther, 33, of Glasgow, said: “I had used sunbeds just now and again. I thought they gave me a healthy glow and when I had a tan, I would feel better about myself.

“Now I know sunbed tans are far from healthy and I can’t bear to see people going into sunbed shops knowing the harm that they are doing to their skin. I have never been under one since and will never use one again.

“I hope this campaign, with the images which can be quite shocking, gives an insight into the damage people are doing.”