The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed new rules that would restrict the use of tanning beds for minors and add some other measures in order to make consumers more aware of the risks of indoor tanning.
The most standout part of the FDA’s proposed rules is the reclassification of tanning beds for adults age 18 years and older only.
Additionally, the FDA proposes that any adults using tanning beds be made to sign a release acknowledging the risks of tanning before the first session and every six months following in order to prove that they are aware of the health risks involved.
Other safety methods that have been proposed by the FDA include displaying prominent warning signs, mandating eye protection, labeling bulbs, adding a panic button for emergency shut off, and prohibiting modifying the machines without recertifying them through the FDA.
Use of indoor tanning beds can result in a 59% greater risk of melanoma, and this increases with each use of a tanning bed. The rays used in tanning beds are more intense than the sun, and the World Health Organization classified indoor tanning beds as carcinogenic in 2009. Despite these warnings, approximately 1.6 million minors participate in indoor tanning each year. There are up to 19,000 tanning salons in the United States, and up to 20,000 other locations that offer tanning services (such as spas).
The American Academy of Dermatology applauded the proposed rules, while the Indoor Tanning Association emphasized that a minor going to an indoor tanning salon should be the decision of the parent, not the government.
The proposed rules are available for public comment for three months. The FDA has stated that it wants to hear from users, families, and business owners.