Madam, - Skin cancer rates continue to rise alarmingly and melanoma is a killer disease. With the publication of the second national cancer strategy document, we welcome Minister for Health Mary Harney's recent commitment to making sun bed usage illegal for under-16s at commercial premises.
However, we feel this is a token gesture to regulate one small section of a cosmetic industry which thrives because of market demand from a public that is largely unaware of the dangers this industry can pose to health and well-being.
Each day misleading advertisements are published - particularly those for "mole mapping" and skin cancer detection at various outlets. There is currently no legal requirement for these operators to be accredited by the Irish Medical Council. Specialist accreditation in dermatology indicates that a doctor has the training and experience to interpret findings and make a safe clinical decision on the presence of skin cancer or the potential for developing it.
In the current absence of legislation to guide the public, we recommend that people who have any concerns about their skin should be sure they are seeking advice from an accredited specialist in dermatology. The Medical Council can confirm immediately whether your "specialist" really has specialist accreditation.
The council can be contacted at Lynn House, Portobello Court, Lower Rathmines Road, Dublin 6 (01-4983100, info@mcirl.ie, www.medicalcouncil.ie). - Yours, etc,
Dr PAULINE MARREN, Chairperson, Southern Group of Irish Dermatologists, University College Hospital, Galway.