Dermatology Association Calls for
Tighter Regulations on Indoor Tanning
By Diana Clarke
For most teens, getting a tan during spring break
or in preparation for the prom is as common as these rites of passage
themselves. Although teens hear dermatologists’ warnings that tanning
is the most avoidable risk factor in the prevention of skin cancer,
studies find they forgo this advice in favor of the bronzed look.
Speaking at the American Academy of Dermatology’s
(AAD) Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month news conference,
dermatologist James M. Spencer, M.D., vice chairman, department of
dermatology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, addressed
the incidence of teens and tanning and how the AAD is trying to combat
it.
Alarming Trends This year, more than 1 million new
cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the United States – exceeding
the incidence of all other cancers combined. It is estimated that
there will be about 95,880 new cases of melanoma (the deadliest form
of skin cancer) in 2004, which represents a 4 percent increase in
new cases of melanoma from 2003.
“While many health issues are complex and involve
multiple factors, in the case of skin cancer we know that ultraviolet
light is the culprit and avoiding excessive exposure is the solution,”
said Dr. Spencer. “Yet despite this knowledge, the number of skin
cancers continues to rise each year. Even more disheartening is the
fact that teens continue to tan despite the known health risks.”
A national study of 6,903 non-Hispanic white adolescents
– between the ages of 13 and 19 – found that indoor tanning is not
only prevalent, but influenced by factors such as demographics, the
use of controlled substances (e.g., alcohol, tobacco and marijuana),
appearance-related factors (e.g., dieting), and psychosocial factors
(e.g., cognitive ability). The study, “Use of Indoor Tanning Facilities
by White Adolescents in the United States,” was published in the September
2003 issue of Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine.
Overall, when taking the national population into
consideration, the number of young women who reported using a tanning
booth at least once far outweighed the number of young men who engaged
in this activity (36.8 percent vs. 11.2 percent, respectively).
The number of young women who reported using tanning
booths also increased with age. The study found that 47 percent of
young women aged 18 to 19 years old reported using a tanning booth
three or more times, compared with 11.2 percent of 13- to 14-year-old
girls.
Geographic region greatly influenced the likelihood
of using an indoor tanning facility, with adolescents in the Midwest
and South being two to three times more likely to use tanning booths
than the rest of the country. In addition, teens that attended a rural
high school were more likely to report using an indoor tanning facility
than their counterparts at urban high schools.
“This study confirms that despite the risk, indoor
tanning seems to be increasingly popular with young people – and particularly
young women,” said Dr. Spencer. “It’s unfortunate that the pressure
these teens face to conform to cosmetic ideals presented in popular
culture and advertising is so powerful, even with all we know about
the dangers of tanning.”
Dermatologists Take Action
Indoor tanning is a booming business in the United
States, generating estimated revenues in excess of $5 billion dollars
a year. Most salons use bulbs in their tanning beds that emit a significant
amount of UVB and UVA radiation – both of which are associated with
the development of skin cancer and premature aging.
In fact, the Department of Health and Human Services
has added UV radiation from the sun or artificial light sources such
as tanning beds and sun lamps to the government’s list of known carcinogens.
The manufacturers of indoor tanning equipment are
regulated at the federal level. Once manufacturers sell the equipment
to a tanning salon, it is generally up to the states to regulate their
operations. While 29 states regulate tanning salon operators, the
legislation varies in severity and there is limited enforcement.
While some states go so far as to prohibit access
to tanning booths by minors without parental consent, some require
salon owners to post warning signs in a visible location in the salon,
and others may only establish educational and training standards for
tanning salon operators.
“Even in those states that have some elementary safety
regulations, it is not clear who would enforce them,” explained Dr.
Spencer. “That means children and teens have open access to equipment
that appears to be utilized in an often careless fashion. We applaud
states like Texas, California and Tennessee that have worked feverishly
to enact tough legislation restricting the use of indoor tanning facilities,
especially among minors. But more states need to take their lead and
enforce regulations that limit access to this dangerous activity.”
The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA)
recently issued a new position statement on indoor tanning, encouraging
states to aggressively pursue legislation that protects children and
urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take action that
will ban the sale and use of tanning equipment for non-medical purposes.
Specifically, the AADA supports the following requirements for indoor
tanning facilities:
No minor should be permitted to use tanning
devices. A Surgeon General’s warning should be placed on all tanning
devices.
No person or facility should advertise the
use of any Ultraviolet A or Ultraviolet B tanning device using wording
such as “safe,” “safe tanning,” “no harmful rays,” “no adverse effect,”
or similar wording or concepts.
“Throughout most of the country, none of the basic
safety measures that we are proposing are required,” explained Dr.
Spencer. “Research has shown that indoor tanning is dangerous, and
there should be laws to protect children from engaging in this activity
as there are from other unhealthy behaviors such as drinking or smoking.
We urge all states to take immediate action to prohibit indoor tanning
for minors.”
In addition to the AADA’s call for tighter regulations,
the AAD is targeting teens with print and broadcast public service
announcements (PSAs) on the dangers of tanning that are scheduled
to be released nationwide to the media this summer.
“We conducted focus group testing with teens across
the country and found that while teens know that overexposure to the
sun can cause skin cancer and premature aging, they are reluctant
to change their behavior because they feel more attractive with a
tan,” said Dr. Spencer.
“For our new PSA campaign, we used this research
to develop the messages and images that almost force teens to stop
and re-examine their behavior. If we’re successful in getting even
one teen to change his or her behavior, that’s one life we eventually
might save.”
About The Author: Diana Clarke is a teacher and
the founder of The Sun and Your Skin at www.yourskinandsun.com
