Cancer Prevention - Artifical Tanning - Don't Use Tanning Beds

Getting a tan from either the sun or sun beds can result in skin damage. It is a myth that getting a tan from tanning under lights is a safe way to tan. There is no safe way to tan. Exposure to the damaging rays from tanning lamps can lead to sunburn, eye damage and increased risk of skin cancer. The ultraviolet (UV) rays that your skin has been exposed to in your lifetime add up. Your skin never forgets!

What you can do:

  • Do not use tanning beds or tanning lights.
  • If a tanned look is important to you, try to find other ways to look tanned. You can use a cream or lotion that will colour your skin and give you the appearance of a tan.

 

Related Resources

Canadian Cancer Society - Indoor Tanning

Canadian Cancer Society - Indoor Tanning: Our Position

Health Canada - It's Your Health: Tanning Lamps

World Health Organization - Media Centre: The World Health Organization recommends that no person under 18 should use a sunbed (2005)

World Health Organization - Fact Sheet: Sunbeds, Tanning and UV exposure