Sunbed Crackdown: Over 200 Child Violations Recorded Amid Health Warnings
More than 200 cases of children illegally using sunbeds have been documented across the United Kingdom over the past fifteen years, with one shocking incident involving a child aged just ten. This revelation comes as the tanning industry experiences a significant boom, fuelled by social media trends and advertisements that misleadingly promote sunbeds as integral to wellness and beauty.
Alarming Statistics and Inadequate Enforcement
Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request by dermatology experts at The Devonshire Clinic reveal that 201 cases where under-18s used sunbeds have been recorded since 2010. The data shows that 66 local councils reported at least one instance of a child using a sunbed between 2010 and 2025. However, only eight of those councils issued fines to the tanning salons involved, highlighting a concerning lack of enforcement.
Dr Conal Perrett, a consultant dermatologist at The Devonshire Clinic, expressed grave concern to the Independent, stating, "A 10-year-old should never be anywhere near a tanning salon. At that age, children’s skin is extremely delicate, and they cannot possibly understand the long-term consequences of UV damage. The fact this is happening despite legislation suggests enforcement simply isn’t strong enough."
Severe Health Risks and Expert Warnings
Medical experts are issuing stark warnings about the dangers of sunbed use, particularly for children. Sunbeds significantly increase the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, which claims about six lives daily in the UK. According to the charity Melanoma Focus, approximately 100 melanoma deaths each year are linked to sunbed use.
Dr Rakesh Anand, a consultant dermatologist and spokesperson for the British Skin Foundation, told the Independent he is "deeply concerned" about the recorded illegal use among children and emphasised that "stronger enforcement" is urgently needed. He explained, "The scientific evidence is clear, but we're competing with social media trends and algorithms that hold a strong influence over young people’s minds and perceptions of beauty."
Dr Anand further detailed the heightened risks for children, noting their skin is thinner, still developing, and more vulnerable to UV damage. "UV damage acquired early in life is more likely to persist, with decades for those changes to accumulate and increase the risk of permanent DNA mutations later on," he said. Large studies consistently show that intense UV exposure in childhood significantly raises the risk of melanoma in adulthood, even if exposure ceases later.
Regulatory Action Against Misleading Claims
The findings emerge as the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has taken decisive action against tanning firms promoting misleading "safe tanning" claims. This week, the ASA banned advertisements from five sunbed-related companies for suggesting their services were safe, offered health benefits, or could treat medical conditions such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), psoriasis, and eczema.
The regulator ruled the ads were misleading and irresponsible, ordering them not to appear again and warning that future advertising must not suggest sunbeds are safe or beneficial to health. This crackdown aligns with the World Health Organization's classification of sunbeds as being as dangerous as smoking. WHO research indicates that using a sunbed before the age of 20 increases the risk of melanoma skin cancer by 47 per cent compared to those who have never used one.
Government Proposals for Stronger Measures
In response to these concerns, the Government has proposed a crackdown on businesses flouting the law and endangering children's health by selling sessions to under-18s. New proposals under the soon-to-be-launched National Cancer Plan aim to strengthen requirements around commercial sunbed use.
These measures include banning unsupervised sessions and introducing mandatory ID checks to verify users are over 18. Health Minister Karin Smyth stated, "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. These proposals will crack down on rogue operators and ensure the law is properly enforced."
As dermatologists warn of rising skin cancer rates linked to early UV exposure, the combined efforts of regulatory bodies, medical experts, and government initiatives seek to protect public health and prevent further illegal and dangerous sunbed use among vulnerable young people.
