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Do you regularly use sunbeds?

A quarter of a million young people in England are risking cancer because of sunbeds, a charity says. Do you use them?

Under-18s are already banned from tanning salons in Scotland and campaigners want the same law across the rest of the UK.

Cancer Research UK says the majority of teenagers aren’t warned about how sunbeds can lead to the most deadly form of skin cancer.

Recent research claims half of 15 to 17-year-olds in Liverpool and Sunderland have used sunbeds, with more than 40% using them every week.

Why do you think young people continue to use sunbeds? Should under-18s be banned from using them?

Published: Friday, 13 November, 2009, 10:07 GMT 10:07 UK

All comments as they come in

Added: Wednesday, 18 November, 2009, 10:27 GMT 10:27 UK

Subeds are the preserve of the vain and shallow. If people wish to fry themselves, then that's their prerogative.

Neil Probert, Cernusco Sul Naviglio, Italy

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Added: Tuesday, 17 November, 2009, 15:26 GMT 15:26 UK

Excess use of anything that can cause deadly diseases massively should have no reason of not banning.

A R Shams, Pakistan

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Added: Tuesday, 17 November, 2009, 14:46 GMT 14:46 UK

It seem strange to me that a sun-bed does the same thing as sun bathing, accept that sun bathing is more natural.

Yes it should be banned to children but if an adult wants to use a sun-bed then let them. Everyone knows that this might cause cancer in later life but so does alot of other things as well.

Gillian Moore, London, United Kingdom

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Added: Tuesday, 17 November, 2009, 14:11 GMT 14:11 UK

"Recent research claims half of 15 to 17-year-olds in Liverpool and Sunderland have used sunbeds, with more than 40% using them every week."

don't they have anything better to do?
sounds like the most boring, tedious, stupid generation growing up. Where do they get the very idea from and who gives them the money for such rubbish?

I'm hoping these figures are wrong.

McModerated Ms, London, US Minor Outlying Islands

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Added: Tuesday, 17 November, 2009, 13:58 GMT 13:58 UK

No, I don't regularly used sunbeds and, I understand the consequences and the side effects of using a sunbed...

And, no, I would not allowed someone under the age of 18, to used the sunbed....

=Dennis Junior=

Dennis Junior, Dryden

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Added: Tuesday, 17 November, 2009, 12:42 GMT 12:42 UK

Maybe the government should create a supertax for sunbed parlors and the equipment that's manufactured/imported. They love taxing stuff, so I'm sure they'd push that idea through in less time than it took me to type this paragraph.

The idea is that kids under 18 don't have all that much disposable income and we can price them out of this sort of activity.

It's only a partial solution, but it would be cost effective and easy to implement.

Stephen McCann, Glasgow, United Kingdom

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Added: Tuesday, 17 November, 2009, 11:18 GMT 11:18 UK

What if we allowed under 18s to use sunbeds, but made it a legal requirement that everybody had to watch the episode of Ten Years Younger with the sunbed addict before going in. I'd rather stay young, pale and beautiful thanks.

Emily, Edinburgh

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Added: Tuesday, 17 November, 2009, 10:23 GMT 10:23 UK

Guys - please stop harming yourself.

Theres plenty of moisterisers out there to help with skin problems.

Using sun beds a small amount will increase your risk, even if you have darker skin - and you will age faster too.

Don't chance your life to look nice - its not worth it.

chezzaj, Peterborough

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Added: Monday, 16 November, 2009, 19:20 GMT 19:20 UK

"A quarter of a million young people in England are risking cancer because of sunbeds, a charity says. Do you use them?"

No because I'm not young and I'm fairly dark already.

I have no wish to be crispy too.

Muhammad Zaman

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Added: Sunday, 15 November, 2009, 15:43 GMT 15:43 UK

i think that is stupid that anybody should use sun beds
when you acn get really realistic fake tan
i am 14 and would never use one even though i am really pale
xx

emily, buxton

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Added: Sunday, 15 November, 2009, 12:44 GMT 12:44 UK

No, I'm not vein & daft enough to do that.

Bob Todd

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Added: Friday, 13 November, 2009, 18:14 GMT 18:14 UK

Everyone should learn to be happy with their natural appearance, this way, they wouldn't need to use sunbeds.
I'm extremely light skinned naturally, and I've never used a sunbed, and I don't plan on doing so either, I'm happy with the way I look, even if I do stand out. I've never even had a tan from the sun itself.
Why harm yourself to look better to other people? It's pointless.

Louise, Swansea

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Added: Friday, 13 November, 2009, 18:00 GMT 18:00 UK

Yall need to take more vacations to Los Angeles.

When I lived in Utah I would use them just to keep warm but now that I live in Southern California no need.

Come Visit!

Steven, Los Angeles

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Added: Friday, 13 November, 2009, 15:14 GMT 15:14 UK

I have natually olivey skin, and when there is little sun in the UK my skin is aweful! Not only does it look dull and sickly in colour, it becomes dry, chapped and unhealthy.
I am 22 and have been using sunbeds regularly since I was 18. I only tend to use them once a month and they really help my skin.
When used correctly and safely sunbeds dont cause any harm. Its parents responsibilty to teach their children the dangers of exposing young skin to too much sun.

Sarah-Louise, Milton Keynes

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Added: Friday, 13 November, 2009, 14:56 GMT 14:56 UK

Well obviously the sun varies on different days and at different strengths. I think using a sunbed for Vitamin D purposes is a weak excuse. You can get plenty of Vitamin D from other sources, for example, oily fish, eggs, fortified foods such as margarine and breakfast cereals. Powdered milk, liver and liver products. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin which means you dont need it everyday, your body is able to store some up.
The issue is cancer and poss ignorance in teenagers who use beds

ROWENA, LUDLOW

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