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Varna Medical Forum

Awareness of the visitors of solar studios in Varna and Dobrich about the health risks from their use

Slavka Valcheva, Mariela Ilieva, Neli Kancheva, Denitsa Georgieva, Teodora Dimitrova

Abstract

Bulgaria is one of the countries with the highest number of cases of skin cancer worldwide. The consequences of intensive exposure to UV radiation are an important health and social issue. Artificial indoor tanning has been offered widely during the last years and this has lead to plenty of discussions mainly related to the risks of the uncontrolled offer of such services, and to the need of safety and health regulations. The purpose of the study is to determine the levels of health risk awareness amongst the clients of solar studios in Varna and Dobrich. A survey was conducted involving 116 people of which 97 women and 19 men. According to the results, only 57.9% have been informed by a cosmetician. Only 70% of the clients have been given regularly instructions for the use of the solarium. Almost one quarter of the participants in the survey stated that they chose a solar studio because of the radiation parameters. More than 50% of the interviewed exposed to artificial UV radiation the zones of their bodies with pigmentary formations while 55.3% of the clients of artificial tan studios naturally have light skin, which means they are exposed to a higher risk of malignant new formations. Based on these results, activities aimed at raising the population`s awareness about the effects of UV radiation and about protection measures, as well as at building habits of safe behavior when using artificial UV radiation sources, should be planned and implemented.


Keywords

UV-tanning; health risk; awareness

Full Text


References

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14748/vmf.v7i0.4968

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