A beauty columnist has issued a stark warning about the dangers of sunbeds, calling for them to be banned in the UK. Sali Hughes compared the practice to foxhunting and highlighted that commercial sunbeds are classified by the World Health Organization as being as dangerous as asbestos and cigarettes.
A new survey by Vita Liberata found that one in three British women use indoor tanning beds, despite 91% of them understanding the increased risk of skin cancer. The WHO notes that sunbed users have a 20% greater chance of developing melanoma, the most lethal form of skin cancer. For those who start using sunbeds before age 35, the risk rises to 59%.
Sunbeds are also linked to basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. Hughes criticised TikTok for hosting misinformation, with the #tanningsalon hashtag garnering 65.5 million views. She debunked claims that sunbeds prepare skin for holidays or provide vitamin D, stating that medical UV treatments are controlled and different.
