This Weeks' Topic
Teen Tanning:
Should the Industry be Regulated?

Do teens need a parent's permission to go to a tanning salon?

Everyone loves a "savage tan" in the summer, but is it really safe. What are the statistics regarding the safety of tanning beds and exposure to the sun?

Worldwide, between 2 to 3 million people develop skin cancer each year.

1 in 5 Americans will at some point develop skin cancer.

Tanning can also cause immune system damage, and it will cause premature aging of the skin.

As people are getting ready for the lake, sometimes they will go to a salon for a tan, but what are the scientific facts regarding tanning beds? 

The American Medical Association and the American Academy of Dermatology have both supported efforts to ban the sale and use of tanning beds, so that should tell you something about their safety.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control strongly caution against their use. All of these organizations cite numerous studies that show a higher risk for malignant melanoma, a potentially deadly form of skin cancer, in individuals with high levels of exposure to ultraviolet radiation. That includes both forms of UV rays - UVA and UVB. Most tanning beds and booths use UVA, but it is a myth that UVA radiation is less harmful.  

Are only teens at risk, or is anyone who tans in danger? 

Everyone is at risk. However, radiation damage accumulates throughout life. Teens are particularly vulnerable because they are still growing, and are experiencing a high rate of cell growth. 

What about tanning proponents who claim that most tanning related cancers are easy to treat and cure? 

The only people who say tanning is healthy are tanning parlors who are making a profit off of it. These groups also lobby vigorously against any attempt to restrict or regulate tanning operations.

As for "easy to treat" cancers, that is another myth - several forms of skin cancer can lead to scarring, long and painful treatments repeated over a course of years, and eventually, death.

How is the tanning industry regulated? 

Sixteen states require written parental consent for anyone under the age of 18 to go into a tanning bed.

In Missouri and the remaining 34 states, the industry is completely unregulated. No license is required, and there are no standard operating procedures.

People who go tanning are undergoing a process with very serious potential health consequences, and they're doing it under the direction of people with no medical training. Tanning salon's have no incentive to educate their customers about the dangers of the tanning beds.

Has Missouri ever attempted to regulate tanning or impose limits?

Missouri regulates other actives that pose fewer health risks than tanning. For example, No one under age 18 can get a tattoo or body piercing without their parent providing consent in person. But parental consent is not required for tanning in Missouri.

In 2002, a Bill was introduced in the Missouri House of Representatives that would have required state-level regulation of the tanning industry, but it was defeated after protests from the Indoor Tanning Association.

How can people avoid skin cancer and other problems related to UV radiation? 

The dangers of UV radiation don't just come from tanning beds. Exposure to the sun can be harmful as well.

•  Try to stay out of direct sunlight during the middle of the day, typically from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

•  Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants, and wear a broad-brimmed hat if you will be spending a lot of time in the sun.

•  Use a sunscreen of at least SPF 30, and look for "broad spectrum" sunscreens that block both UVA and UVB radiation.

Disclaimer
This information is general and may or may not apply to your situation. The information contained on this web site is not to be considered as legal advice. Since no two cases are identical, we recommend that you contact an attorney in your jurisdiction to discuss the specific facts of your case. Furthermore, since statutes and case law change so frequently and due to information provided by other sources, we make no warranty or guarantee concerning the accuracy of the content of this or any other web sites to which we link.