Past sunbed use raises melanoma risk, but stopping UV exposure helps
The article says earlier sunbed use and sunburn can raise a person’s risk of melanoma, but do not mean they will inevitably develop the disease. A dermatologist says that after someone stops excessive UV exposure, their melanoma risk may fall over time, making it worthwhile to avoid sunbeds and prevent further sunburn.
The dermatologist estimates the risk may fall significantly after three or four years without further burning, though it may not return to the level of someone never exposed. The article cites research suggesting five or more sunburns can double melanoma risk, and that a single blistering burn in childhood or adolescence may more than double it. Sunbed UV rays are described as around 12 times stronger than average sunlight; other skin damage and non-melanoma cancers may remain linked to exposure for longer.
- Past sunbed use does not make melanoma inevitable.
- Melanoma risk may fall after years without further UV damage.
- Sunbeds deliver far more intense UV than average sunlight.
New here? Start with this
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops in cells that give skin its colour. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and sunbeds can damage skin and increase the chance of developing it, although exposure does not mean someone will inevitably get melanoma.
Sunbeds produce concentrated UV radiation, while sunburn is a sign that the skin has been damaged. The risk can vary with a person’s pattern of exposure and other factors, and previous exposure may continue to matter even after they stop using sunbeds or avoid burning.
Reducing UV exposure can help lower future risk over time, but it may not erase the effects of earlier exposure. Avoiding sunbeds and preventing further sunburn can also reduce additional skin damage.
Basketball Culture Health Medicine Sport Travel World
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Daily Mail as “I sunbathed in my teens – will I get skin cancer? Experts reveal how long the danger lasts after you stop tanning, whether your skin can repair itself… and the REAL risk of the occasional beach holiday”.