ENGLAND — A cross-party group of MPs has called for a ban on advertising sunbeds and for mandatory skin cancer warnings to be displayed in tanning salons and sunbed shops across the United Kingdom. The All Party Parliamentary Group on beauty proposed displaying cigarette-style images at the premises to dissuade people from using them.

The year-long research report found that the majority of skin cancer cases are preventable and that using a sunbed before the age of 35 increases the risk of the most dangerous form of skin cancer by 60%. Seven people die each day from melanoma in the UK, according to Cancer Research UK, which lists melanoma as the fifth most common cancer in the country.

The report said government intervention needs to go further, starting with education. It found that many adults did not understand the true risk of UV exposure or when to use sun cream, and identified a lack of understanding about how sun exposure affects different skin tones.

To address this, the report suggested launching long-term public health campaigns and integrating information in everyday settings such as apps, public transport, digital billboards and at GP check-ups. It also recommended extending education to train hairdressers, barbers and beauty therapists to spot potentially cancerous moles on clients and encourage them to seek medical advice.

There is currently only mandatory sun safety teaching in English primary schools and none in secondary schools. Schools also do not have requirements in place to provide shaded areas on sunny days.

The report recommended removing VAT on all children's sun cream and on high SPF products for adults, which are currently treated as cosmetic items rather than essential for health. It also suggested increasing the minimum age for the use of sunbeds year on year, in a similar way to cigarettes. Sunbeds are banned in Australia and Brazil for cosmetic and commercial use.

The report showed that social media regularly spreads misinformation claiming that sun cream contains toxic chemicals and that natural alternatives are as effective. BBC research from earlier this year found hundreds of adverts on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook saying that sunbeds could boost energy and treat skin conditions and mental health issues. The report suggested using the Online Safety Act to prevent the misinformation spreading online and working with platforms to promote scientifically accurate information on sun safety.

The Sunbed Association said the industry is already strictly regulated and that it does not believe sunbed use should be categorised in a similar way to tobacco products. The government said its recent cancer action plan in England will aim to bring in stricter rules for sunbed use, including mandatory ID checks to make sure under-18s are not using them.