"The boys mainly used them to clear up their skin if they had acne, but they don't seem to realise the damage they are doing is much worse in the long term."
Calls are growing for tighter restrictions on youngsters visiting tanning salons with the number of people suffering skin cancer doubling in the past 10 years.
Legally there is nothing to prevent children using sunbeds but the guidelines recommend they are only used by over-16s.
Nina Goad from the British Skin Foundation said: "The advice of the World Health Organisation is that people under the age of 18 should not use sunbeds.
"It is widely reported that there are a number of short and long-term health risks associated with using sunbeds. In the short term, people may experience sunburn to the skin, including soreness, blistering and peeling.
"Some users have also reported dry, bumpy or itchy skin. However, of more consequence are the potential long-term risks of sunbed use, of which skin cancer is the most significant.
"The BSF's advice regarding children and tanning is simple: we recommend that children should stay covered up in the sun as much as possible and should wear sunscreen of SPF 30 on all exposed body areas.
"Children should be protected from UV damage and we would therefore not recommend that children use sunbeds."
West Derby MP Bob Wareing said: "Using sunbeds can be risky for people of any age, let alone children.
"There needs to be legislation to safeguard these young people and stop them putting their health in danger. "I don't advocate the use of them at all."
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