Sunbed and tanning safety

Sunbeds are often used for tanning. They work by blasting your skin with ultraviolet (UV) rays, which go into the skin and can cause the same reaction as the sun, or a stronger one.

The reaction depends on your skin type. You may get sunburn or a tan.

There's no safe or healthy way to get a tan from UV rays.

In Scotland, it's illegal to let anyone under 18 use a sunbed or any other indoor tanning device.

If you do use sunbeds, you should know the risks and take safety precautions. This helps limit any damage to your skin.

Using sunbeds can raise your risk of skin cancer. Exposure to UV rays is the number one cause of skin cancer, and that includes melanoma, which is the most dangerous type.

Using a sunbed just once before the age of 35 can significantly increase your risk of melanoma.

Sunbeds carry other risks too:

• eye damage: using a sunbed without proper eye protection can damage your eyes
• premature aging: sunbeds can cause early wrinkles and sun spots
• sunburn: sunbeds can cause painful and dangerous sunburn on the face and body
• a weakened immune system: UV rays can reduce the body's immune response or cause an overreaction, which could affect your health

If you use sunbeds, follow the safety advice so that you stay as safe as you can.

• know your skin type
• limit the time you spend on sunbeds
• read all the safety information you can find
• ask the staff for advice before you use a sunbed, so you can lower the risk for your skin type
• wear eyewear that blocks UV
• check your skin regularly for any changes
• moisturise your skin after you use a sunbed

• Do not use a sunbed if you have a history of skin cancer.
• If you have fair or sensitive skin, do not use a sunbed.
• Do not have repeated sessions to build up a quick tan before a summer holiday.
• Do not use sunbeds as a way to boost your vitamin D. The safest way to get vitamin D is through a healthy diet or supplement.

Further information on skin types and skin cancer risk

You can get sunburn straight after a sunbed session, or it may show up a few hours later. If your sunburn is mild, take a cool bath or shower. If it is more severe, you should get advice from a doctor.

You use sunbeds and have:

• severe burning or blisters
• any skin damage
• unusual changes to your skin, including any new moles or changes to an existing mole

If your doctor's chamber is closed, phone the 16263 health line.

Fake tan comes as lotions, sprays and mousses. It gives you a tanned look without any exposure to UV rays. These kinds of fake tan suit most skin types, and they can be a safer choice than sunbeds.

Melanotan II products may make the skin tan when it's exposed to UV rays. Those rays can come from natural sunlight or from sunbeds.

You may come across Melanotan II in different forms, including nasal sprays and tanning injections. These products are unauthorised and have not been tested, and what they contain is unknown.

You're advised not to use Melanotan II nasal sprays or injections for tanning.

If you use Melanotan II, or any other nasal or injection tanning products, stop using them straight away. And if you notice any side effects, speak to your doctor as soon as you can.

The side effects of Melanotan II can include:

• nausea
• drowsiness
• vomiting
• loss of appetite

Some people may have more severe reactions, and nobody yet knows the long-term effects of using Melanotan II. In some cases it could lead to serious health problems.

Tanning injections also carry the same risks as any other kind of injection. These are:

• hepatitis B
• hepatitis C
• HIV/AIDS
• nerve damage
• septicaemia (blood infection)

If you think a medicine or vaccine has caused a side effect, tell your doctor or pharmacist. In Bangladesh, suspected side effects can also be reported to the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA), which runs the national adverse drug reaction monitoring programme.