Sunbed association’s tan protection claim disputed by health bodies
The Story
A fact-check by Full Fact has found that the Sunbed Association, which represents UK sunbed salons, is promoting incorrect health advice on its website. The association’s FAQ answers “No. Tanned skin protects against sunburn” to the question “Is it true there is no such thing as a safe tan?” Health organisations including Cancer Research UK and the British Association of Dermatologists have warned that a tan indicates skin damage and increases the risk of skin cancer. Full Fact checked the claim with seven UK, European and US health bodies, all of which refuted the idea that tanning is protective. The association provided scientific papers to support its position, but Full Fact and a statistics expert said the evidence was not reliable. The article notes that melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK, with 19,400 new diagnoses and 2,600 deaths each year.
Key Facts
- The Sunbed Association’s website states: “Tanned skin protects against sunburn.”
- Cancer Research UK and the British Association of Dermatologists say a tan can increase the risk of skin cancer.
- Full Fact checked the claim with seven health bodies: UK’s NHS, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, European Commission, US’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, plus Cancer Research UK and the British Association of Dermatologists.
- All said tanning is not protective and indicates skin damage.
- The European Commission said: “The only safe way to use [sunbeds] is not to use them at all.”
- The Sunbed Association provided scientific papers as evidence, but Full Fact said those studies were “not in our assessment reliable guides to the risks in the real world.”
- Statistics expert Kevin McConway, professor emeritus at the Open University, dismissed the validity of the association’s evidence.
- Melanoma in the UK: 19,400 new diagnoses and 2,600 deaths per year.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
No open questions identified in the source article.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
- Sunbed Association (organization representing UK sunbed salons)
- Full Fact (fact-checking organization)
- Sophie Brooks, health information manager at Cancer Research UK
- British Association of Dermatologists (as organization)
- Kevin McConway, professor emeritus of applied statistics at the Open University
Sources: The Guardian
