Casting light on the sunbed row | Bay of Plenty News | Local News in Bay of Plenty

Sunbeds are something of a touchy subject in the Bay, with some beauty salons getting rid of theirs because of the bad publicity and others offering the service but choosing not to advertise it.

Others though are still reaping the financial benefits of a market that is alive and well in the Western Bay.

Tauranga woman Kathryn Wilson, who featured in the Bay of Plenty Times earlier this week, was given a 47 per cent chance of surviving more than five years after developing melanoma she believed was linked to being badly burnt by a sunbed.

Since her story broke, the 40-year-old mother-of-two said the response had been overwhelmingly positive, with support from across Australasia coming via Facebook.

"I've had this amazing response, saying how brave I am because it's quite controversial and good on me for speaking out on this issue. It was going to be a scary thing for me to go public but I just feel really strongly and I needed to say it," she said.

Tauranga MP Simon Bridges said yesterday he was researching the industry and considering drafting legislation to put in the ballot for members' bills.

"The international evidence is that sunbeds increase your likelihood of skin cancer. It's also clear that the younger you are the higher the risk of harm, so there are strong arguments for regulation regarding younger people."

Tauranga Skin Centre dermatologist Ben Tallon frequently sees patients fighting the impact of their quest for a tan.

"If you have had a sunbed, particularly with a severe burn, then it's certainly a risk. Not only of melanoma, but of other types of skin cancer," Dr Tallon said.

Skin cancer expert Dr Paul Salmon said that in 2007 there were 80 cases of melanoma in the Western Bay for every 100,000 people, while non-melanoma skin cancer rates were about 3000 per 100,000. The rates are similar to those in Queensland and about double the national average, he said.

At Tauranga's Aura Sun Spa, manager Cyndyl Tarawa said the sunbed business was booming, with an average of about 20 sunbed sessions a day, at an average length of 12 minutes.

She said men and women of all ages visited once, sometimes twice a week, to build and maintain their tan. Others also visited every fortnight to treat skin conditions, including psoriasis and eczema. Ms Tarawa said staff warned clients about the risk of using a sunbed and warned those who had very fair skin against doing so.

"We have warning posters in our rooms that tell you the risks of the sunbed, accelerated ageing, the risk of melanoma developing and the risk of cataracts if you don't wear goggles. If they're given the right information and not over-exposing themselves, then I don't see a problem with them [sunbeds]. A lot of the time people are really good, they understand we're the professionals. Every now and then you get someone that thinks they could go for longer. In those cases there's not a lot we can do really."

At Mount Maunganui's Just Polished, salon owner Amanda Arlidge said sunbedding had picked up since July. She said the salon would not allow anyone under 17 to use the sunbed but has to warn some adult clients not to re-use the sunbed until at least 24 hours have passed, with most using them a couple of times a week at a cost of $1 per minute.

At Mount Skin and Body, Clare Fursdon said they preferred to promote spray tans instead.

"The sunbeds are very few and far between now [in the beauty industry], just because of the dangers that are involved with them basically."

Tauranga gym Fitco got rid of its sunbed more than a year ago after negative publicity about effects. A spokesperson, who did not wish to be named, said the unhealthy image and link to skin cancer put the business off.

Mount Maunganui gyms Bay Bodyfit and Global Fitness both have sunbeds, neither of which are well used or promoted by staff. Assistant manager at Global Fitness Sean Joyce said about 80 per cent of the sunbed users were not members of the gym.

"It is a personal choice and we've done all we can as far as letting people know the health risks involved."

Dr Tallon said the New Zealand Dermatological Society had formed a working group with the Cancer Society of New Zealand and Melanoma Foundation of New Zealand to lobby for the Government to legislate sunbed use, restricting the age of use to 18. Banning them would be "ideal".

"But unfortunately we have to do things in an appropriate way and we're working on trying to lobby local politician Simon Bridges to see if he can get involved with the regulation process."

What causes melanoma?

Most melanomas are caused by exposure to UV radiation in sunlight.

Sunburn in childhood increases risk of melanoma in later life.

There is a greater risk of melanoma with high doses of sun exposure occasionally (eg during holiday and recreational activities) than with more continuous sun exposure (eg daily work outdoors).

The use of tanning booths or sunbeds increases risk of melanoma. Use of sunbeds before the age of 35 is associated with a 75 per cent increase in the risk of melanoma.

- Source: Melanoma Foundation of NZ website