Commercial tanning beds, often called sunbeds, are widely promoted as a quick way to achieve a tan.
But researchers and medical experts are warning that these machines pose a serious danger to public health—especially to young people.
Writing in The BMJ, Professor Paul Lorigan and colleagues argue that commercial sunbeds should be completely banned in the UK because they are strongly linked to melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, and other skin diseases.
Sunbeds work by exposing the skin to concentrated ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
UV rays are the same kind of rays from sunlight that cause sunburn, premature aging, and skin cancer. But on a sunbed, the exposure is often much more intense than what a person would normally get outdoors.
According to cancer charities, even occasional use of sunbeds can greatly increase the risk of melanoma, particularly for people who start using them before the age of 35. This is worrying news for today’s young adults, as indoor tanning has become popular again, with social media platforms promoting it as a lifestyle trend.
In the UK, sunbed use among young people is alarmingly high. A 2024 survey by Melanoma Focus found that 43% of 18 to 25-year-olds reported using sunbeds, with half of them visiting at least once a week. Many of these users were unaware of the risks associated with indoor tanning.
Even though it has been illegal since 2011 for under-18s to use sunbeds in England and Wales, a 2025 survey of 16 and 17-year-olds found that 34% still used sunbeds, suggesting the law is not being effectively enforced.
The scale of the industry is also not properly tracked. Researchers found more than 4,200 sunbed outlets in England and over 230 in Wales, with the highest density in the northwest and northeast regions of England—areas that also have higher rates of melanoma among young people.
In 2018–2020, there were over 2,600 new cases of melanoma every year in 25–49-year-olds in England, with two-thirds of the cases in women. Tragically, 146 people in this age group died from the disease each year during this period.
Evidence from other countries shows that simply tightening regulations is not enough to protect young people. For instance, in the Republic of Ireland, stricter sunbed rules introduced in 2014 did little to reduce under-18 use.
Similarly, in Iceland, 15 to 17-year-olds remain the main users of sunbeds despite a ban for under-18s introduced in 2011. These examples suggest that partial restrictions may not work; instead, experts argue, only an outright ban would be effective.
Lorigan and colleagues describe the UK sunbed industry as a “clear example of an under-regulated sector aggressively marketing a harmful product to a vulnerable population.”
They believe that banning commercial sunbeds, combined with strong public education campaigns about sun safety, would be the most cost-effective way to reduce skin cancer rates, save lives, and reduce pressure on the NHS.
To address the financial impact on businesses, they propose a buy-back scheme to support sunbed providers transitioning away from tanning services.
The authors note that the UK government has pledged to reduce health inequalities and focus on prevention. Commercial sunbeds, they argue, target people who are already disadvantaged and at higher risk of harm.
Encouraging sun-safe behaviors, like using sunscreen and avoiding intense UV exposure, is important but will take years to shift public habits. By contrast, a ban on commercial sunbeds would send an immediate and powerful message about their dangers and could reduce skin cancer cases quickly.
Review and analysis of the study findings show a clear pattern: existing regulations have failed to prevent young people from using sunbeds, and the harmful health effects of these machines are well documented. International examples reinforce the conclusion that incremental rules are not enough.
An outright ban on commercial sunbeds, backed by education and support for affected businesses, could save thousands of lives in the coming decades while reducing the burden on healthcare systems. It is a public health measure that would bring immediate benefits, especially for the young people most at risk.
The study is published in The BMJ.
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