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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.

Fighting to protect Saskatchewan youth

In Saskatchewan in 2009, there were 165 cases of melanoma, the most serious kind of skin cancer, and 2,961 cases of non-melanoma skin cancers. There were 25 deaths in Saskatchewan due to melanoma in 2009.

 

The Canadian Cancer Society in Saskatchewan is one of many health professional members of SunSmart Saskatchewan that brings awareness to the importance of skin protection. Join the campaign by supporting our efforts on the SunSmart Saskatchewan Facebook page and help us reduce the occurrence and death from skin cancer.

 

Since 2011, Saskatchewan volunteers have been raising awareness on the issue of indoor tanning at all of our Relay For Life events.

 

In 2012 we had more than 1,500 signatures on petitions at 11 community events and Society representatives presented those signatures to each of those Relay communities’ MLA.

 

Sign our online petition

 

Read more about our position and ways to protect your skin for life.