Showing how the law regulating sunbeds isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.
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Too much UV radiation is the 3rd biggest cause of cancer and the main cause of skin cancer in the UK.
Using a sunbed increases the risk of skin cancer, and 46 new melanoma cases are diagnosed each day in the UK, a rise of 32% over the last decade. With melanoma skin cancer rates projected to rise by 9% in the UK by 2025, predictions suggest there could be around 26,500 new cases of melanoma skin cancer every year by 2038-2040.
Sunbeds can emit up to 15x more UVA than the sun, which led The World Health Organisation to declare sunbeds as dangerous as smoking and place their use into the highest risk level for cancer alongside cigarettes, alcohol, and asbestos.
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13 years ago, the Government introduced the Sunbeds Regulation Act and banned their use by under-18s. However, sunbeds still kill approximately 100 people each year and recent TikTok search data shows this number is likely to rise with many Brits unaware of the life- threatening danger they pose. The Sunbed Legislation Act came into play before social media gained such influence, and that’s why Skin Cancer UK is lobbying to get the Government to update the law and make warning signs mandatory.
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Ross developed a lesion on his back after years of using sunbeds, despite the regulations in place. Hear his full story to understand the importance of stricter regulations for sunbeds.