Indoor tanning
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, but it’s also one of the most preventable. Exposure to UV rays – whether from the sun’s rays, tanning beds or sun lamps – increases the risk for non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers. There is no safe way to get a tan. To reduce your risk of getting skin cancer, do not use artificial tanning equipment such as tanning beds or sun lamps.
Indoor tanning and young people
Because indoor tanning is especially harmful to young people, the Canadian Cancer Society believes that:
- People under the age of 18 should not be allowed by law to use indoor tanning equipment.
- Indoor tanning advertising aimed at people under the age of 18 should be banned.
What needs to happen
- Federal, provincial and territorial governments should regulate the indoor tanning industry by requiring the registration of tanning beds and sun lamps, licensing of staff and regular inspection of equipment and premises.
- Tanning equipment should be labelled in a way that clearly explains the health risks.
- The indoor tanning industry must stop using misleading phrases such as safe, no harmful rays, no adverse effects or similar wording.