Hamburg  - Tanning in a solarium before going into the sun provides no appreciable protection against sunburn. However, it does raise the risk of skin cancer considerably, according to information from a German cancer support association and a German dermatological prevention organization.

As ultraviolet (UV) rays penetrate deep into the skin, they also accelerate the ageing of the skin. Despite these risks, 14 million Germans use solariums, making Germany Europe's top country for artificial tanning, according to a study conducted this year and recently published by the two groups.

More than 90 per cent of the people who use solariums knew that every sunburn caused permanent skin damage. Nearly all - 96.6 per cent - of the people surveyed knew that artificial and natural UV rays increased the risk of skin cancer. Additionally, 98.7 per cent knew that going to the solarium led to premature ageing of the skin.

Despite the information, having a tan apparently is so important that they accept the increased risk of cancer. Sixty-two per cent said they went to the solarium to enhance their appearance. The study of 500 men and women between the ages of 18 and 45 was conducted at an institute for public health in Mannheim, Germany. (dpa)