A dermatologist is calling for a blanket ban on sunbed use by people under 18 in Ireland.

Newstalk contacted 10 salons around the country yesterday with 2 of them saying it would be OK to bring a 12-year-old child in to use their sunbed.

An estimated 140,000 people in Ireland use sunbeds regularly.

A recent report showed that using them even once increases your risk of developing melanoma.

Dermatologist Dr. Callaghan Condon has pointed to the complexion of Madonna as a good example of the benefits of opting not to tan your skin.

He spoke with Breakfast here on Newstalk.