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