Commercial sunbeds should be banned in the UK, the health experts urged. The use of sunbeds causes melanoma and other skin cancers, particularly among young people, the experts argued. They also criticised the ineffectiveness of the existing sunbed legislation.There is little evidence that stricter rules would help protect the most vulnerable, say Professor Paul Lorigan and colleagues, in an editorial shared on The BMJ.
Why ban sunbeds?
Indoor tanning has seen a boom in recent years, particularly among Gen Z, with social media promoting sunbeds as integral to wellness. According to the recent surveys, 28% of the UK public use sunbeds. Its popularity among young people is particularly concerning. A 2024 survey of 2,003 people in the UK found that 43% of respondents aged 18-25 used sunbeds. Of these, half of them visited at least weekly, and many are unaware of the dangers associated with it. One survey by Melanoma Focus involving 100 UK youngsters (16 & and 17-year-olds) this year found that, despite a ban on under-18s using sunbeds in England and Wales in 2011, 34% were still using them. The authors also pointed out that neither the number nor the location of sunbed outlets in the UK is monitored.
Industry claims are just claims
According to the data, 4,231 sunbed outlets were identified in 2024 in England, and 232 in Wales, with density per 100,000 population highest in north west and north east England and in the most deprived areas.The authors also emphasized that the distribution of sunbed outlets also correlates with melanoma rates in young people, with the highest rates in northern England. During 2018-2020, over 2,600 new cases of melanoma were reported annually in 25-49 year olds in England. Two-thirds of cases were reported in women, resulting in 146 deaths.
“The current situation in the UK is a clear example of an under-regulated industry aggressively marketing a harmful product to a vulnerable population. Many people use indoor tanning to improve their self-esteem and in the mistaken belief that it provides a “base tan” that prevents sun damage to their skin. Such marketing promotes health inequalities with serious societal harms. Claims that modern sunbeds are safer are not substantiated by evidence of their measured radiation,” they said.
The authors have urged for an ‘immediate outright ban’ on commercial sunbeds. They also emphasized the need to educate people, as it is the “most cost-effective solution to reduce skin cancer, save lives, and ease the burden on the NHS.”“The UK government has pledged to prioritise prevention and to reduce health inequalities. Commercial sunbeds target those who are most disadvantaged and susceptible to harm. Enhanced efforts to encourage sun safe behaviours are critically needed but will likely take a generation to have an effect. A ban on commercial sunbeds is the first step in this process. It would send a clear message and have an immediate effect on skin cancer,” they concluded.
