Sunbeds 'up risk of melanoma by 41pc'

Melbourne, August 5 (ANI): A landmark Australian study has found that people who use sunbeds to get a tan are at an increased risk of 41 percent risk of developing melanoma.

The Australian Melanoma Family Study found that 23 per cent of participants who had melanoma reported using the device.

"The dangers of using sunbeds are now well known, but there is a special message from this research for young people - avoid them completely," News.com.au quoted the study's senior author Graham Mann as saying.

The study revealed that sunbed users were much more likely to be female, tan easily, be exposed to more sun on summer holidays and live in less sunny regions.

"Participants who began using sunbeds before 20 years of age or reported more than 10 sunbed sessions during their life doubled their risk of melanoma," Prof Armstrong said. (ANI)