Dermatologists Make Another Push To Regulate Tanning Salons

Dermatologists consider tanning salons a public health hazard, saying they pose a significant risk of skin cancer. Despite that, a survey suggests many of those most at risk are unaware of these concerns.

The survey by the American Academy of Dermatology (AADA) found that 43 percent of indoor tanners reported that they have never been warned about the dangers of tanning beds by tanning salon employees. When asked if they were aware of any warning labels on tanning beds, 30 percent of indoor tanners said no.

By age group, younger tanning bed users (age 14-17) were more likely to be unaware of any warning labels on tanning beds than older tanners (age 18-22) – 42 percent vs. 25 percent, respectively.

Significant health risk

“Indoor tanning poses a significant health risk, especially for Caucasians because of their fair skin. Studies have found that UV radiation from indoor tanning beds increases a person’s risk of developing melanoma by 75 percent,” said dermatologist Ronald L. Moy, MD, FAAD, president of the Academy. “Contributing to this problem is the fact that tanning bed facilities currently are not required to verbally warn patrons of the known health risks of ultraviolet (UV) radiation and, in some cases, they may be misleading the public by falsely promoting artificial UV light as safer than natural sunlight.”

AADA said it supports the Tanning Bed Cancer Control Act (TBCCA), which calls on the FDA to examine the classification of indoor tanning beds and implement enhanced labeling requirements. The measure was introduced in the last session of Congress but died in committee.

The Academy’s survey

Despite the fact that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer have classified UV radiation from tanning devices as cancerous and in the same category as cigarettes, a number of younger tanning bed users still think tanning beds are safer than the sun, according to the survey.

Specifically, younger tanning bed users age 14-17 are more than twice as likely to think tanning beds are safer than the sun than older tanners age 18-22 and more than three times as likely to think that tanning beds do not cause skin cancer.

“The FDA currently ranks tanning beds as a Class I medical device, which provides a minimal level of regulation and oversight similar to bandages, tongue depressors, gauze and crutches,” Moy said. “That is why it’s important that the FDA change the classification of indoor tanning devices to reflect the significant health risks that they pose, often unknowingly, to tanning salon patrons.”

The Tanning Bed Cancer Control Act (TBCCA) was re-introduced this week by Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and Charlie Dent (R-Pa.).