Taking more than 100 sessions of UVA rays increase the risk of developing skin cancer

Taking more than 100 sessions of UVA rays over a lifetime is an additional risk factor for developing melanoma, a type of skin cancer has increased its presence in Spain in recent years. Its prevalence doubles roughly every two years and, in fact, already affecting some 3,200 patients in its superficial form and about 1,200 each year in its advanced form.

Dr. Alfonso Berrocal, Section Chief of Oncology at the Hospital General Universitario de Valencia and vice president of Spanish Multidisciplinary Melanoma Group, said, "an exhibition of more than 10 hours to ultraviolet radiation from a tanning bed (approximately 100 sessions 5 or 10 minutes each) over a lifetime is an additional risk factor for developing skin cancer. "

Health authorities worldwide have warned that these booths increase the chances of developing cancer and their owners, according to Dr. Berry, "have the obligation to give them warning labels to its customers in this regard." However, this is not done, nor to recommend to their users take UVA rays with sunscreen.

To raise awareness of this cancer "can kill" and "important" that prevention is the Foundation of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV) conducted its XII Campaign to Prevent Skin Cancer 2011 .

According to experts, this type of skin cancer has features of an epidemic. " Melanoma is most common among people with fair skin who have spent much time exposed to the sun and usually arise in areas of the body with greater exposure.

The progressive natural tan does protect the skin:

Dr. Berrocal belies the popular belief that taking UVA prepares the skin for the first rays of sun. In his view, "getting into a cab is receiving massive input of ultraviolet radiation dose to the skin and that can not be protective of any of the ways."

The tan does have a protective function: to prevent sun-induced damage on nucleic acids in our cells. "The best way of getting a tan is not the cabin or sun exposure, is an exhibition that takes place gradually, with a high protection factor, browning too little by little," the expert advised.

Such changes in lifestyle as well as increased sun exposure are factors that are increasing the incidence of melanoma in Spain, where, despite not having a national registry of patients with melanoma, it is estimated that 1,000 to 1,200 patients per year develop melanoma metastatic melanoma being the surface "between 20 and 30 times more frequent."

Although there is a greater exposure to the sun, Spain is the European country with a lower incidence of this cancer by the skin type of the population.

According to Berry, 90% of melanomas are diagnosed in Spain "at a curable stage, and can be treated with surgery. This is because patients, especially women, know how to identify at what point a mole that grows or bleeds can be a warning sign.

As a first step, you can do a simple test that will determine whether your moles may require dermatologic consultation. For this visit the web 'prevenciondelmelanoma'.

Eight basic tips for tanning

■ The first four days do not take direct sunlight for more than 15 minutes.
■ Gradually increase exposure time but never more than 2 hours.
■ Ten days your skin will be ready to receive sunbathing.
■ Avoid the sun between 12 and 16 hours.
■ Always use a sunscreen with a high factor.
■ Apply sunscreen half an hour before you start taking the sun.
■ Repeat the application every time you leave the water.
■ After the bath, once dry, apply a moisturizer