“Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from both natural and artificial sources represents a severe, yet entirely preventable, public health crisis in the UK.” A preventable crisis - the cases for a national UV safety strategy
Back in May 2025, an All Party Political Group (APPG) for Beauty and Wellbeing launched a formal inquiry into UV Safety. This was dedicated to exploring many aspects of UV safety in the UK, and the root causes of UV damage.
Key areas of focus for the inquiry were:
Evidence was gathered from manufacturers, academics, industry, health experts and those with lived experience of the effects of UV damage, with the aim of providing a strategic roadmap for government and industry alike.
The UV Index has been a rather background tool in weather forecasts, highlighting the strength of the sun's rays through the day at particular locations. Maybe this could have higher prominence, and better understanding for the public?
“Sun exposure is a major cause of skin cancer, the most common type of cancer in the UK*” British Association of Dermatologists (BAD)
*There are 17,500 new cases of melanoma skin cancer every year. In addition, it is estimated that there are around 250,000 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer (NSMC) every year. NMSC is excluded from official statistics due to how common it is. The BAD has partnered with the National Disease Registration Service to improve the quality of skin cancer data and encourage the inclusion of skin cancer statistics in national publications.
A year on, the APPG launched its report ‘A Preventable Crisis: The Case for a National UV Safety Strategy’ in Parliament with recommendations for government and industry for a national UV Strategy.
The report identified key barriers as misinformation online, a lack of education and understanding of the risks of over-exposure, alongside the public not being adequately informed about the importance of UV safety.
Areas that were looked at included sunbed regulation, battling misinformation and improving school-based education, as well as the potential impact of cutting the 20% VAT on sunscreen to no longer classify sun protection as a ‘luxury’ item, making it more affordable for all.
Rising cases of melanoma mean that skin cancer is now the UK’s 5th most common cancer, with 17,500 new cases annually, according to Cancer Research UK. Yet, 86% of melanoma cases are preventable through simple measures like using SPF30+, making it one of the UK’s most pressing public health challenges.
"NHS data suggested that skin cancer treatment is costing the Health Service approximately £720 million every year."
On the launch of the inquiry, Carolyn Harris MP, Chair of the APPG for Beauty, Hair & Wellbeing, said: “According to a recent consumer survey, only 35% of people actually know what the term ‘SPF’ means, and cases of melanoma are expected to rise to 26,500 by 2038. What’s more, 65% of people said they stay in the sun for prolonged periods of time for a tan, and 11% of people use sun beds. That’s why this inquiry into UV Safety is increasingly vital and will push for much-needed government and industry action to protect the general public.”
There is the natural exposure to UV in sunlight to consider, balanced with the well-being benefits of being outside and Vitamin D intake, but this inquiry also looked at artificial UV from sunbeds
“A systematic review published in the British Medical Journal highlights that using a sunbed before the age of 35 increases the risk of developing melanoma by 59%.” Inquiry report
The recommendations of the report include:
Public Awareness
A sustained and fully inclusive cross-party national health campaign, supported by government and industry, alongside the integration of UV exposure into routine healthcare discussions.
The Government must mandate GPs to introduce a question about UV exposure alongside the normal consultation questions about diet, alcohol consumption and tobacco consumption.
Education
Mandatory, standardised UV safety education at both primary and secondary school levels, supported by resources from industry and charities.
For sun protection to be embedded on school lists of what children should bring. Education should be inclusive of different skin tones and around early signs of skin cancer. To create relevant resources for young people “to debunk the dangerous misinformation spread on social media”. To create more “Sun-Safe” environments. That sunscreen is not a summer holiday luxury but an everyday essential
UV index data has been mentioned in recent years on television weather broadcasts. It is available on weather apps but like air pollution, there is no national alert system. You do need to search for the UV index on weather websites. There is also the issue of cloud cover and the ongoing risk of UV rays, even if the direct sun can’t be seen on that day. You can still burn when it is cloudy. Daily cues on weather apps, travel shelters and stations and in news reports could help normalise sun protection.
The UV index is an international scale that gives an indication of how strong the radiation that might cause sunburn is at a specific location and time. Values in the UK tend to be from 0 to 9, the scale does reach 11. A UV index of 3–5 is considered moderate. A UV index of 3 or above is strong enough to cause damage for some skin types
UV Index: 6-7 High - Seek shade during midday hours, cover up and wear sunscreen. 8-10 Very high - Spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm. Shirt, sunscreen and hat are essential.
Cost and Accessibility
Proposals to remove VAT completely from high-factor children’s sunscreen products and for SPF30+ sunscreen to be classified as a preventative health item (alongside products such as nicotine patches) and therefore subject to a lower-rated VAT of 5%. This should accompany a commitment from industry that such a VAT reduction will be passed on to consumers.
This is a key point, the skin care industry passes on the VAT reduction. Consumer groups will need to monitor this. Sunscreens can then “be reframed as the tools for cancer protection that they are.”
Protection for Outdoor Workers
Recognition of sun protection as essential PPE, including mandatory provision of sunscreen, shaded areas, and UV risk assessments in workplaces.
"The Government must make sun protection products – hats, sunglasses, appropriate clothing and sunscreen – part of compulsory PPE for outdoor workers”
Artificial UV Regulation
Stronger controls on sunbeds, including banning unstaffed units, introducing mandatory health warnings, and implementing a national licensing scheme.
The current UK legislation ‘Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010’ restricts sunbed use to those aged 18 and over, strict UV output limits, and supervision requirements.
Tackling Misinformation
Greater accountability for social media platforms and stricter advertising regulations to prevent misleading claims about tanning and UV exposure.
“The Government must ban all products that are marketed as tanning accelerators. The potential suggestion that they limit UV exposure – whether through sunbathing or the use of artificial tanning – making it safer is a dangerous fallacy.”
Back in the day there was a time when slapping olive oil on your skin was all the rage, and far from ideal in the UK. Influencers are now promoting “base tans”, discouraging sunscreen use and recommending unsafe alternatives such as beef tallow for UV protection.
What next
The Sunbed Association responded
“The UK already has significant legislation governing commercial sunbed use…The real issue is inconsistent enforcement by local authorities against a minority of non-compliant operators, something TSA has repeatedly highlighted and offered practical support to help address…The focus should be on improving standards and enforcement”
“The APPG says it wants to tackle misinformation online, yet its recommendation is to silence regulated businesses while leaving online influencers free to glamorise irresponsible tanning practices”. TSA
So much of the online mis-information is the same as other topics and concerns. Can the government use the Online Safety Act to make social media platforms take responsibility? To moderate content and remove harmful or misleading content. And to encourage expert communities to get their research and discussion embedded online and communicated, not just hidden away in academia.
How to make people go to trusted sources, official experts? And maybe they just don’t want to. They like the sun, want a tan and fake tanning is still quite a faff. Or maybe just get caught out in spring time, on a sunny day when they expose their winter months skin for the first time that year. Or people who head off for a two week holiday somewhere hot and are desperate to return home with a tan.
“According to Cancer Research UK, an estimated 86% of melanoma skin cancer cases and 90% of non-melanoma skin cancers are entirely preventable”
One of the most successful world campaigns was the Australian Slip Slap Slop which developed into the Slip Slop Slap Seek Slide program to prevent skin cancer. Slip on a top, Slop on the sunscreen 30+, Slap on a hat, then Seek shade in the middle of the day and Slide on sunglasses. It was easy to remember and understand and made a real difference to societal behaviour.
With melanoma cases in the UK projected to rise by 9% by 2038 this health campaign, with resulting changed behaviour, is needed to save lives, worries and invasive treatments. The NHS estimates that the annual treatment costs for skin cancer exceed £750 million.
“The starting point to transform the UV safety landscape, must be to raise awareness of the issues and put UV safety at the heart of the country’s conversation around health, through informing and educating the population.”
Like smoking, vaping, drinking alcohol, excessive high calorie diet or Ultra Processed Foods there are risks heightened by genetic or social factors. We often know what is "bad" for us but there is an attractive or convenient payoff. On High Streets or in town centres, sunbed or vape shops make an offer to customers. In parks and on beaches around the UK, when it finally warms up and the sun is out, us Brits are known for bizarrely stripping off to desperately "catch the sun".
'Trucker's Face', or the heightened right hand side risk of skin cancer for drivers in the UK, particularly long distance lorry drivers to their ears, face and right arm. Sunscreen provided in their cab might be a small change with potentially positive outcomes?
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