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.
The Canadian Cancer Society, Newfoundland Division, continues to work with our National body to promote the need for restrictions on indoor tanning and follow up on our provincial advocacy campaign conducted in 2012-2013. Two components within the 2012-2013 campaign that are ongoing are;
- Recommendations made to the Minister of Health to enact new legislation on indoor tanning. (Bill 27 received Royal Assent on June 27, 2012. The new Personal Services Act (or specific sections of the Act) will be proclaimed and come into force at a later date.
- Public education – developing education tools and materials. Concentration and focus will be on raising public awareness on the effects of artificial tanning.