Sunbeds beneficial?

WalterMitty

http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/health/article-1127175/Top-cancer-doctor-says-SHOULD-sunbed-session.html

I was thinking of using sunbed a few times a month for skin issues and this has encouraged me.

WalterMitty

Anyone have data on studies where the sun bed using population has been controlled relative to general population?

jc84

I agree with the article, i use them once every two weeks sometimes once a week, i feel great after, look better it cleared up the soriasis i had, its when you go on several times a week that you become wrinkly saggy etc which isnt recommemded

iii Stevo iii

I have mild-ish eczema and anytime there's sun it clears it up completely, never thought about sunbeds to clear it on a regular basis but will be keeping an eye on this thread to hear peoples opinions.

WalterMitty

Anyone?

opinion guy

This is one oncologist saying something in the Daily Mail.

If those are really his feelings he should write a proper paper and send it in to the journals for peer review and so forth.

Practically every other doctor is saying sunbeds are bad.

Personally, I'd go with what every other doctor says and ignore the one guy speculating in the trashiest of daily papers.

ZYX

He makes a massive leap saying the only way to get sufficient Vit D is from sun beds. His comment: "A person would have to drink ten tall glasses of Vitamin D-fortified milk each day just to get the minimum levels"
is wrong. You need about 2 and a half glasses. About 600mls a day of fortified milk will get you to the "minimum levels". However, this assumes you have absolutely no other source of vitaminD. Even a poor diet and minimal exposure to the sun will still get you some Vit D.

I also find it strange that he thinks it better to use a sunbed than use a simple multivitamin. A single once daily multivitamin will have between 50-100% RDA of Vitamin A, is totally safe (despite him trying to scare monger) and is dirt cheap. Along with a normal diet and minimal day light exposure should easily be sufficent to supply all your daily Vit D levels.

0lddog

Vit D ?

Well lets start opening THAT can of worms ..............

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18200565
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19758159
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19393200

El_Dangeroso

Heavy sunbed use is definitely not advisable. The evidence is more murky when it comes to occasional use.

I remember reading somewhere that the harm from sunbeds was related to an imbalance in UVA and UVB light. Initially they thought it was UVA that uniquely caused melanoma, but sole UVB light was discovered to have had the same effect, but to a lesser extent. Sunbeds are heavy on UVB light as this is the light that causes a tan.

In any case sunbeds are not analogous to a day in the sun, there is no natural equivalent of that level of UVB exposure.

Minier81

The WHO classifies sunbed as a group one carcinogen, putting them in the same league as Asbestos, Tobacco smoking and Radionuclides.

http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/iarcnews/2009/sunbeds_uvradiation.php

Anybody should think seriously about that before even considering using them. If you are concerned about vitamin d deficiency then take supplements.

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

I remember reading somewhere that the harm from sunbeds was related to an imbalance in UVA and UVB light. Initially they thought it was UVA that uniquely caused melanoma, but sole UVB light was discovered to have had the same effect, but to a lesser extent. Sunbeds are heavy on UVB light as this is the light that causes a tan.

In any case sunbeds are not analogous to a day in the sun, there is no natural equivalent of that level of UVB exposure.

Correct, in fact there is currently no level of control on the types of UV radiation present in UV lamps in sunbeds in Ireland.

UV can be used therapeutically for treating psoriasis/eczema/etc and is in hospitals - but the difference here is that exposure is prescribed and measured.