The use of artificial tanning booths for aesthetic purposes has grown rapidly over the past thirty years, raising many questions regarding their effects on health. Various measures have been taken to regulate the use of tanning devices in France. In order to review the application of these regulations, the Ministry of Health asked ANSES to update scientific knowledge on the health consequences of exposure to artificial ultraviolet radiation emitted by tanning booths.
The risk of skin cancer linked to artificial tanning is proven
For many years, scientific knowledge has made it possible to document the health effects of artificial ultraviolet radiation and ANSES has published several expert reports on the subject. Tanning booths emit high-intensity radiation, equivalent to exposure to tropical sun. These doses received during artificial tanning sessions are added to those received naturally. They cause DNA damage and increase the risk of skin cancer. It is important to remember that no irradiance or dose limit value can be set to protect users.
Artificial UV radiation has been classified as certain carcinogens for humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) since 2009. Numerous expert reports have demonstrated the significant increase in the risk of cancer, in particular cutaneous melanoma, associated with use of indoor tanning. In 2014, ANSES underlined the greater risk during exposure at a young age: people who had used tanning booths at least once before the age of 35 increased the risk of developing cutaneous melanoma. In France, it has been estimated that 43% of melanoma cases in young people might be attributed to the use of tanning booths before the age of 30. Two recent epidemiological studies carried out in the United States and Norway have confirmed the level of evidence of the carcinogenic risk associated with the use of tanning devices.
Other health effects and no benefits
Exposure to artificial UV rays also leads to other deleterious effects, such as in particular accelerated aging of the skin, estimated four times faster with tanning lamps than with the sun.
Furthermore, the coloring of the skin caused by exposure to artificial UV follows a different mechanism from that of natural tanning and does not provide any protection once morest the deleterious effects of UV. Thus, exposure to artificial UV rays does not prepare the skin for sun exposure and does not protect once morest sunburn. Finally, the use of tanning booths does not allow a significant intake of vitamin D.
ANSES recommends all measures to end the population’s exposure to artificial UV rays for aesthetic purposes
In its previous opinions, the Agency recommended not exposing oneself to artificial UV rays and stressed that the regulatory framework was a partial and insufficient response to the proven risk of skin cancer for users of tanning booths.
On the basis of this new summary of expert appraisals and recent data in the field, ANSES recalls the dangerousness of artificial tanning, confirms its previous recommendations and recommends that the public authorities take all measures likely to put an end to the exposure of population to artificial UV rays.
