Sunbeds: why they should be banned

Seven operators let a person with fair skin, which burns easily, have a sunbed. Three of these operators were repeat offenders. Our survey shows consumers don’t have sufficient protection from dodgy operators – we’d like sunbeds banned.

Are sunbeds safe?

The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies sunbeds as carcinogenic.

Research has shown that:

• People who have used a sunbed have a 20% greater risk of melanoma than those who haven’t used a sunbed.
• People who first used a sunbed before the age of 35 have a 59% greater risk of developing melanoma.
• The risk of melanoma increases the more often you use a sunbed.

The New Zealand Dermatological Society (NZDSI) says the only time using a sunbed is useful is during phototherapy – the process of exposing the body to UV radiation to treat some skin conditions. The NZDSI says these treatments should be conducted under medical supervision.

Fair skin survey

The voluntary sunbed standard recommends that people with type 1 skin (fair skin that burns readily or never tans) shouldn’t use a sunbed. Sunbed operators are advised to use a skin assessment questionnaire to determine a person’s Fitzpatrick Skin Type.

The questionnaire asks about genetic factors (eye, hair and skin colour, and number of freckles), reaction to sun exposure, and tanning habits. Points are allocated for each question and the total score gives your skin type. There are six skin types and a score of 0 to 7 is skin type 1, while a score of 8 to 16 is skin type 2.

We sent shoppers with type 1 skin, as assessed by a health professional, to 20 operators (eight in Auckland, seven in Wellington and five in Christchurch). The same type 1 shopper went to each operator in the same region. If permitted to have a sunbed by the operator, our shoppers did not have the sunbed but completed our survey form in the sunbed cubicle.

Sunbed operators visited by type 1 skin shopper

Auckland

In Auckland, our type 1 shopper was refused a sunbed at six premises. Two operators didn’t turn her away, despite her completing a skin assessment.

At Sunset Tan, our shopper’s initial assessment gave a score of 7 (type 1) and the operator advised she was unable to have a sunbed because of her skin type. After discussing one of the questions with the operator, her score was recalculated as 8 (type 2) and she was allowed the sunbed.

At Headstart Total Body, our shopper ticked on the skin assessment form that she’d had previous childhood sunburn. The operator discussed this with her and asked her to sign the form to confirm it had been discussed. In the cubicle, the shopper was told she was skin type 2 based on the form she had filled out and could use the sunbed for five minutes.

Wellington

In Wellington, three (out of six operators) let our shopper have a sunbed.

Classic Tan didn’t provide a consent form or give our shopper a skin assessment. House of Beauty Day Spa told our shopper based on her skin type she could have a three-minute sunbed for her first two sessions, then increase the time to six minutes. At Studio 128 in Johnsonville, our shopper filled in a skin assessment form and got a score of 7 (type 1). She was recommended the shortest time – three minutes.

Christchurch

In Christchurch, two (out of five operators) let our shopper have a sunbed.

At Here for Hair in Redwood, our shopper filled in a skin assessment form and was told she had to “start slowly” because she has pale skin. Goggles weren’t provided – our shopper was told to use a facecloth to cover her eyes.

The Gloucester Cottage skin assessment classified our shopper as type 1 (6 points). However, she was still allowed to use the sunbed but told to “take your time getting in and undressing”.

Sunset Tan (Auckland), Classic Tan (Wellington) and Studio 128 (Wellington) also allowed a type 1 person to use a sunbed in our 2020 survey.

Problem with skin assessments

Dermatologist Dr Louise Reiche says its disappointing sunbed operators are continuing to offer potentially lethal UV to our most vulnerable fair-skin New Zealanders. Dr Reiche says a major problem with skin-type questionnaires is that the answers are always subjective.

“Looking at a person’s skin is not a particularly good way of discriminating between skin type 1 and 2, and studies have shown there are limitations to using patient-reported appearance to predict individual risk and self-reported burning,” she said.

The NZDSI strongly believes the tanning industry needs to take a precautionary approach to people and not allow people with skin type 1 and 2 to use the sunbed.

Under-age shoppers

We also sent under-age mystery shoppers to 20 sunbed operators (eight in Auckland, six in Wellington, six in Christchurch).

The Health Act restricts sunbed use to people aged 18 and over. The more you use a sunbed and the younger you start, the higher your risk of getting skin cancer.

None of the operators allowed our under-age shoppers to have session. This is an improvement on our last survey, in which six of the 20 operators we visited let our under-age shoppers have a session.

Sunbed operators visited by under-age shoppers:

Auckland

• Body Bronze, Manukau
• Counties Health & Fitness Centre, Pukekohe
• Hobby Hair, Hobsonville
• MegaSun Studio, Ponsonby
• Solaris Beauty Clinic, Botany
• Status Glow, Papatoetoe
• Sunset Tan, Mt Eden
• Sunworld Professional Tanning Studio, Takapuna

Wellington

• Amadeus Hair Studio, Newtown
• Classic Tan Solarium, Lambton Quay
• House of Beauty Day Spa, Porirua
• S & Co. Beauty and Wellbeing, Upper Hutt
• Studio 128, Johnsonville
• Waterlily Hair & Beauty, Johnsonville

Christchurch

• Body Core Gym, Sydenham
• Body & Soul Beauty Therapy, Sydenham
• Carlton Hair Corp, Christchurch Central
• Gloucester Cottage Day & Medi-Spa, Avonside
• Here for Hair, Redwood
• Nirvana Beauty Lounge, Merivale

Sunbed regulation

Since 2017, it’s been illegal under the Health Act for operators to allow under-18s to use a sunbed. In Auckland, the council has also implemented a bylaw requiring sunbed operators to be licensed and to comply with minimum standards. This includes providing customers with a consent form and conducting a skin assessment.

But for the rest of the country, it’s only voluntary to comply with the sunbed standard (AS/NZS 2635:2008 Solaria for cosmetic purposes).

The Ministry of Health advises sunbed operators to comply with the standard. The standard includes criteria about consent forms, eye protection, warning notices and skin assessments.

The standard states sunbeds should never be used by people with type 1 skin (fair skin, often freckled, easily burns and never tans). It’s also recommended people who’ve been sunburnt several times in childhood, people with numerous moles, or people who’ve been treated for skin cancer or are taking certain medications shouldn’t use one.

Sunbeds should be banned

We’ve been mystery shopping sunbed operators for years. Each time we find the lack of regulation and failure to adhere to the voluntary standard means consumers don’t have sufficient protection. We’d like sunbeds banned.

A ban is also supported by a number of agencies including the NZDSI, Cancer Society of New Zealand, Melanoma Foundation, MelNet and the University of Otago’s Social and Behavioural Research Unit.

Dr Reiche said New Zealand unfortunately boasts the highest rate of melanoma deaths in the world.

“Commercial sunbed exposure adds to this lethal risk and the health system is struggling to cope with the high skin cancer workload.”

Consumers also support our call. In a 2021 Consumer NZ survey, only 14% of respondents did not support a ban, while 48% supported a ban and 38% were unsure.

Sunbeds are already banned in Australia, which has similar high rates of skin cancer.