European study warns that tanning lamps and sunbeds may increase risk of malignant melanoma.

The Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) in an opinion report to the European Commission provided that cosmetic tanning devices, such as tanning lamps and sunbeds, may significantly increase the user's risk of developing malignant melanoma of the skin.

The report warns high risk users (such as those people with freckles, family history of melanoma, multiple and/or atypical moles, and those with high susceptibility to sunburn) to completely avoid using these tanning devices for cosmetic purposes.

This report will likely result in more stringent limits on UV products, as well as more definite warnings for high risk users and those under 18 years of age.