Citing a direct link to rising skin cancer rates, especially among young people, UK cancer experts and health campaigners are demanding an immediate nationwide ban on commercial sunbeds.
October 1, 2025
Source:
BBC
Experts Call for Urgent Ban on Tanning Salons
Health experts and cancer charities across the UK are calling for a total ban on commercial sunbeds. The demand follows new analysis highlighting the significant public health risk and direct link to rising rates of skin cancer.
The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies UV tanning devices as a Group 1 carcinogen, the same category as asbestos and tobacco.
A Direct Link to Melanoma
The medical consensus is clear and supported by extensive research.
Sunbed use is associated with a 20% increase in the risk of developing melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer.
The risk jumps to nearly 60% if use begins before the age of 35.
A comprehensive review in The BMJ underscores that indoor tanning provides no health benefits while causing significant harm. Experts argue that sunbeds are a preventable cause of cancer that must be addressed with legislation.
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Source:
The Guardian
Youth Exposure and Failing Regulations
A key driver for the proposed ban is the persistent use of sunbeds by young people, despite existing laws designed to protect them.
A 2011 law banned sunbed use for anyone under 18 in England and Wales. However, recent data shows this regulation is failing. A 2025 survey by the charity Melanoma Focus found that 34% of 16-17 year olds were still using sunbeds illegally.
Targeting the Vulnerable
The problem is widespread among young adults as well. A 2024 survey showed 43% of those aged 18-25 had used sunbeds. Half of them reported using them at least weekly.
Critics point to aggressive marketing tactics. Salons and social media influencers often promote tanning as a wellness product, making false claims about benefits like boosting vitamin D. Research shows sunbeds primarily emit UVA radiation, which does not aid vitamin D synthesis, unlike the sun's UVB rays.
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Source:
HSC Public Health Agency
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