Tanning bed ban for under 18 sought in Sask.

Officials from the Saskatchewan division of the Canadian Cancer Society want the province to enact a ban on anyone under 18 using a tanning bed.

"Indoor tanning is an issue," Keith Karasin, executive director of the organization in Saskatchewan, said Wednesday. "We know that the cases of skin cancer is increasing and we know that youth are very susceptible and we know that UV [ultraviolet] rays and UV tanning is, for the World Health Organization, a carcinogen. So we're very concerned about access."

Karasin said plans are underway to raise the topic with provincial health officials.

"It's another good prevention step that we feel is necessary," he said. "That's something that we're going to be talking to government about, right now."

He noted that Nova Scotia has such a restriction in place and a ban is in the works in B.C.

Saskatchewan's Health Minister, Don McMorris, said a ban in Saskatchewan is not likely. He said the province believes education about skin cancer and tanning is the way to go.