Tanning salons broke the law 206 times last year, new data shows

HSE inspectors entered salons as 'mystery shoppers' to assess services and also made test purchases. Picture: Dan Linehan 

Tanning salons broke the law 206 times last year, including offering sunbeds to under-18s, with four court cases taken, new HSE data shows.

Inspectors entered salons as “mystery shoppers” to assess services and also made test purchases.

It is now 10 years since the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014 made it illegal for under-18s to use sunbeds in commercial sunbed premises or even enter the premises.

This is linked to serious health concerns around links between sunbeds and melanoma skin cancer. 

All businesses offering sunbeds must notify the HSE National Environmental Health Service. Last year 365 did so.

The environmental health officers carried out 425 inspections and found 206 cases of non-compliance with the act.

A HSE spokeswoman said there were different ways this was happening, including failing to comply with age restrictions.

They also found problems with eyewear, which is required to protect customer’s eyes from ultra-violet radiation.

Some salons were sharing false health claims about sunbeds, while a lack of health information and hygiene was also seen. 

Some salons failed due to their marketing practices. This could include offering customers a happy hour with reduced costs or free additional minutes.

Salons which did not have the correct warning signs or proper records were also found.

The Irish Cancer Society has warned a sunbed tan is only 'equal to sunscreen with SPF 2-4, and won’t keep you safe'.

Health officers try to work with businesses to “build compliance”, the spokeswoman said. However, in some cases they had to go further, she said.

“In 2023 this resulted in 17 fixed payments notices being served and four prosecutions instigated, of which two had successful outcomes,” she said.

They can also investigate after receiving complaints. They monitor social media and websites for inaccurate information or illegal activity.

Just last week, dermatologists and public health doctors reacted with horror to news 10.6% of people in Ireland used a sunbed on average eight times during 2020, according to University College Cork and the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital.

Dr Breeda Neville from the National Cancer Control Programme warned: "If you use a sunbed for the first time before the age of 35, your risk of melanoma skin cancer is increased by 75%."

She urged people of all ages to “never ever” use a sunbed, and instead go in the sun with precautions, or use safe fake tan. 

Professor Caitriona Ryan from the Institute of Dermatologists also warned sunbeds were “a really really dangerous thing to do".

In her experience, young women have turned to fake tan but young men still prefer sunbeds, and she warned of risks from even one session.

While patients often used sunbeds for a base tan before going abroad, she said: "You are doing much more damage getting that base than if you went away and got a sunburn on the holiday on your first day out.” 

The Irish Cancer Society has warned a sunbed tan is only “equal to sunscreen with SPF 2-4, and won’t keep you safe”.