The Academy of Medicine strongly discourages the use of tanning booths

The Academy of Medicine strongly discourages exposure to UV tanning booths, warning against the risk of premature skin aging, skin cancer and eye damage caused by this practice.
In Jacques Bazex dermatologist report reiterates the arguments developed in a report written in 1997, including the fact that the amount of UV radiation received in tanning booths is much too large and aggressive for the skin, aging skin and aggravating increasing the risk of skin cancer.

He added another on the basis of knowledge for about 5 years, highlighting the role just as harmful UVA compared to UVB.

There is now not a shadow of a doubt that UVA is "as dangerous, if not more than UVB," said the specialist at a press conference.

Responsible for sunburn, UVB quickly "felt" by people who are exposed. They are also approved by the windows and contribute to the development of a certain protection of the skin by stimulating its self-defense reaction.

UVA, on the contrary, through the windows and cause no obvious short-term effect. The danger then is the false sense of security they bring, prompting some to extend their exposure to these rays.

However, UV radiation in solariums are issued mainly of type A. Worse, the so-called high-pressure cabins deliver the UVA1 fraction more powerful. "The amount of radiation received in cabins is much greater than the amount received in a day" by exposure to sunlight, and in a much shorter period, said Dr. Bazex.

Moreover, the argument that the exhibition booths prepares the skin for further sun exposure is inadmissible, he stressed, explaining that UVA does not contribute to the protection of the skin and a preliminary tanning that increasing the dose of UV radiation received, thus contributing to a degradation of the solar capital.

Another misconception that we hear frequently, however, that the exposure to artificial radiation would fight against osteoporosis by stimulating the synthesis of vitamin D. The specialists agree that vitamin D is its synthesis UVB, not UVA, and ten minutes in the air are sufficient.

In the presence of Maurice Tubiana, president of the Academy of Medicine, and Professor Louis Dubertret, dermatologist at the hospital Saint-Louis (Paris), Dr. Bazex therefore opposed to tanning booths and denounced the "recommendations Ministerial ambiguous "which suggests that with some precautions, their use is acceptable.

"There is no favorable to the health of the practice and to get the desired tan because its sole purpose, we must accept a minimum of cellular alterations that repetition can lead to the development of skin cancer," he lamented .