MPs call for sunbed advertising ban to help prevent skin cancer

Cancer Research UK reports that seven people die each day from melanoma in the UK and that melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the country.

The Sunbed Association says the industry is already strictly regulated and should not be categorized with tobacco products. The article notes that sunbeds are banned for cosmetic and commercial use in Australia and Brazil.

The report suggests removing VAT on all children's sun cream and on high-SPF products for adults, noting sun creams are currently treated as cosmetics rather than health essentials. It also proposes increasing the minimum age for sunbed use year on year, similar to tobacco regulations.

The report highlights misinformation on social media about sun cream and harmful chemicals and proposes using the Online Safety Act to curb such information and to promote trusted, scientifically accurate sun safety information.

The report calls for long-term public health campaigns to educate adults about UV risk and suggests embedding information in apps, public transport, digital billboards and GP check-ups. It highlights a lack of understanding about how sun exposure affects different skin tones and calls for inclusive information. It notes current sun safety teaching is limited to English primary schools with no secondary school requirements or mandated shaded areas on sunny days. It also recommends training hairdressers, barbers and beauty therapists to spot potentially cancerous moles and encourage medical advice.

The government stated that its recent cancer action plan in England will aim to introduce stricter sunbed rules, including mandatory ID checks to ensure under-18s are not using sunbeds.

The All Party Parliamentary Group on beauty released a cross-party report calling for a ban on sunbed advertising and for warnings about the dangers of skin cancer to be issued in shops, including cigarette-style warning images at sunbed shops and tanning salons. The report notes that the majority of skin cancer cases are preventable and that using a sunbed before the age of 35 increases the risk of melanoma by about 60%.