Plan targets youngesters who are most at risk of skin cancer with sunbed use

Tighter  controls on commercial sunbed use are being tabled as part of the government’s forthcoming ‘National Cancer Plan.’

The objective is to better shield young people from skin cancer risks, the government said.

Mandatory age checks

Measures include banning unsupervised sessions and introducing mandatory ID checks to confirm users are over 18. 

They target rogue operators who continue to flout the existing ban under the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010, which prohibits under-18s from using commercial sunbeds.

Investigations have revealed teenagers as young as 14 are gaining access to tanning salons. 

WHO classifies sunbeds as carcinogenic

The World Health Organisation classifies sunbeds as carcinogenic, equivalent to smoking. 

The WHO said sunbed use before age 20 raises melanoma risk by 47%.

Health Minister Karin Smyth said: “Stronger protections on sunbeds are needed so people understand risks that could have deadly consequences. 

‘There is no safe level of sunbed use’

“The evidence is clear: there is no safe level of sunbed use, yet too many young people are being exposed to a known carcinogen with little understanding of the risks.”

Professor Meghana Pandit, National Medical Director at NHS England, said: “A sunbed tan might only last a few weeks, but the damage can last a lifetime. 

“Sunbeds blast your skin with high levels of UV radiation raising the risk of melanoma and other skin cancers, particularly for young people.”

Studies reveal ignorance on the risks of sunbed use

Melanoma Focus polling indicates that 34% of 16- to 17-year-olds in the UK use sunbeds despite the ban, while public awareness remains low. Only 62% of adults recognise the cancer risk and nearly a quarter of 18- to 25-year-olds mistakenly believe sunbeds reduce it.

In 2023, the UK saw nearly 250,000 new skin cancer diagnoses, costing the NHS around £750 million yearly. 

The proposals form part of a broader prevention focus in the National Cancer Plan to cut avoidable cancers, ease NHS pressures, and boost survival rates. 

A consultation on the changes, alongside a call for evidence on further melanoma action, is expected to launch in spring 2026.