Sunbed firm in hot seat over false claims that tanned skin protects against sunburn

The body that represents the UK’s sunbed salons is wrongly insisting that a tan protects against sunburn, even though leading medical bodies say that claim is untrue. Health organisations have challenged the accuracy of information being disseminated by the Sunbed Association, which on its website asks: “Is it true there is no such thing as a safe tan?” Its answer – “No. Tanned skin protects against sunburn” – has prompted Cancer Research UK and the British Association of Dermatologists to warn that a tan can increase the risk of skin cancer. The website also claimed that sunburn is “thought to be the main cause of melanoma . [And that] if you avoid getting sunburned, the benefits of moderate sun exposure will far outweigh the risks.” The Sunbed Association’s claim is contained in a section of its website which poses and answers frequently asked questions about sunbeds, tanning and UV radiation. Its defence of the alleged benefit of tanned skin came to the attention of Full Fact, the factchecking organisation. It checked the association’s statement with seven UK, European and US health bodies. They refuted the idea that tanning is protective and said a tan indicated the person’s skin has been damaged by the sun, leaving them at heightened risk of skin cancer. Sophie Brooks, the health information manager at Cancer Research UK, told Full Fact: “There’s no such thing as safe tanning from UV radiation.. …