Sunbed Industry Faces Stricter Rules on Health Claims
Listen
Vocabulary
Article
Advertising regulators in the UK have launched an enforcement action against sunbed companies that make false or misleading claims about their products. The Committee for Advertising Practice issued a warning that tanning salons must stop downplaying the health risks of sunbed use and cannot claim the beds treat medical conditions or improve mental health. The action follows investigations that found hundreds of social media videos incorrectly promoting sunbeds as ways to boost energy, manage skin problems, or help with depression and anxiety.
Why sunbeds pose serious health risks
Cancer doctors and health charities emphasize that sunbed use carries genuine dangers. Research shows that using a sunbed before age 35 increases the risk of melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer, by 59 percent later in life. Young adults use sunbeds far more than other age groups; about one in seven people between 18 and 24 have used one in the past year, according to a 2025 survey. Regulators worry that false health claims might discourage young people from seeking proper medical advice when they notice skin changes.
What the new rules require
The enforcement notice prohibits companies from making specific medical claims, such as suggesting sunbeds can ease eczema, boost brain function, or reduce inflammation. Businesses are also forbidden from promoting sunbeds as a source of vitamin D or implying they are completely safe. While sunbed use remains legal and regulated across the UK, with limits on UV strength and a ban on under-18s, stricter advertising enforcement aims to ensure young people understand the authentic risks before deciding to use these devices.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think young adults aged 18 to 24 use sunbeds much more often than other age groups?
- According to the article, what specific false health claims were sunbed companies making on social media?
- How could misleading advertising about sunbeds discourage people from seeking medical advice?
- What does the new enforcement notice require sunbed companies to stop doing in their advertisements?
- Do you think the legal restrictions on sunbeds go far enough, or should there be stricter rules?
Open the full interactive lesson with tap-to-hear on every word →