Indoor Tanning To Be Banned For Minors Due To Skin Cancer Risk

• comments
• 
• 

The Food and Drug Administration proposed to ban all minors from tanning bed to reduce the number of skin cancer cases in the United States.

FDA is worried about the high number of skin cancer cases in America. Since a research links exposure of UV radiation from tanning beds to melanoma and other skin cancer types, they decided to propose to ban all those who are under 18 from getting tan indoors. A total of 161 records were assessed and 88 records were included in the study. The study then pointed out indoor tanning causes major public health issue.

The New York Times shared that medical experts used not to think of tanning beds as something that plays a big role in the rate of skin cancer. However, the data they have gathered show that it may actually be a big factor in the number of this disease.

A previous scientific research stated that tanning beds account to more or less 400,000 of skin cancer cases in the U.S. It is also estimated that 6,000 cases out of 400,000 point out to melanoma -- the deadliest type of skin cancer.

The American Academy Dermatology said that there millions of Americans, including teenagers, who use indoor tanning. They also pointed out that data show that the risks of getting melanoma for those who are into tanning beds are 59 percent higher than those who are not into tanning indoors, according to Courier Journal.

If America wants to reduce the number of melanoma cases, then it would make sense to ban the use of tanning beds. Limiting it to the children would probably make a big impact in the skin cancer rate and would be effective in protecting children against the possibility of skin cancer and other skin-related diseases.

The FDA highlighted the fact that the effect of UV radiation exposure are cumulative. Therefore, those people who were exposed at an earlier age suffer from greater risks. Stephen Ostroff, an FDA commissioner, said that those who are below 18 years of age are the ones who are at the highest risk of indoor training's health consequences.

According to Stat News, nine states have already banned the minor individuals from getting on tanning beds. Now, FDA wants to make it as a rule for the whole country.

As of now, the banning of minor from using tanning beds is still a proposal. It has not been passed yet. It will still go through the 90-day period for public comment. After that, the proposal will be accepted and once it is already implemented, those who are under the age of 18 will no longer be able to bask in tanning beds.

While there are many who agree to FDA's proposal, there are also some who disagree. The American Suntanning Association is among those who do not agree with it. They said that the decision as to whether minor individuals should get a tan -- indoor or outdoor -- should be made by their parents and not by the federal government.