The Sunbed Association, the body representing UK sunbed salons, is facing criticism for insisting that a tan protects against sunburn, a claim refuted by leading medical authorities. Health organisations have challenged the accuracy of information on the association's website, which states that tanned skin offers protection from sunburn.
Controversial Claims
On its FAQ page, the Sunbed Association asks: "Is it true there is no such thing as a safe tan?" and answers: "No. Tanned skin protects against sunburn." This assertion has prompted Cancer Research UK and the British Association of Dermatologists to warn that a tan actually increases the risk of skin cancer. The website also claims that sunburn is "thought to be the main cause of melanoma" and that avoiding sunburn makes the benefits of moderate sun exposure outweigh the risks.
Health Experts Respond
Full Fact, a factchecking organisation, investigated the claim and consulted seven UK, European, and US health bodies. All refuted the idea that tanning is protective, stating that a tan indicates skin damage and heightens skin cancer risk. Sophie Brooks, health information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: "There's no such thing as safe tanning from UV radiation. A tan is a sign of skin damage and offers very little protection against the sun." The British Association of Dermatologists added: "There is no safe way to get a tan. Whether from the sun or a sunbed, a tan is a visible sign that your skin has been damaged by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which increases your risk of skin cancer."
Official Warnings
The NHS, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, European Commission, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Food and Drug Administration all highlighted the risks of tanning. The European Commission stated: "The only safe way to use [sunbeds] is not to use them at all." Full Fact concluded that the Sunbed Association's website "contains incorrect health advice on tanning" and warned that "bad health information can be very dangerous."
Evidence Scrutiny
When Full Fact asked the association to justify its statement, it claimed that a controlled tan slightly increases skin protection against further UV damage. However, the evidence it provided was dismissed by statistics expert Kevin McConway, professor emeritus at the Open University, who said the studies were not reliable guides to real-world risks. Melanoma skin cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the UK, with 19,400 new diagnoses and 2,600 deaths annually.
