The dangers of teenage tanning

In drastic efforts to cut skin cancer, the government Health Secretary Andy Burnham, has backed an age limit of 18 for tanning salons to counter the teenage tanning craze. Joining the campaigners when the law is passed will be Girls Aloud star Nicola Roberts, who is making a documentary on the dangers tanning for your skin. Nicola says she has learned to love her pale skin, and instead of heading to the tanning salon she prefers to use fake tan to get that sun kissed look.

The Health Secretary has said that tanning salon owners will face £20,000 fines for breaking the law under the new Bill, which could be passed before the election later this year. "The scientific evidence is clear – sun beds increase skin cancer risk. It is far too easy for young people to use sun beds and I'm determined to protect them."

Cancer Research UK has found that a shocking one in 20 children 11 to 17 had used sun beds, and the figures rose to one in 10 in the North of England with a fifth of those being in Liverpool and Sunderland.

Spokeswoman Sarah Woolnough warned that under 35s increased their risk of skin cancer by 75% by using tanning salons.

The much safer alternative to tanning salons is using fake tan products, such as Oy! Soft Glow Gradual Tan, which allows you to enjoy healthy sun kissed skin without the unhealthy risks of tanning.