Advocate

TAKE ACTION AGAINST INDOOR TANNING

Over the last 13 years IMPACT Melanoma has worked with state officials, politicians and lobbyists across the country to pass tanning legislation in each state. We are happy to say that 16 states have some sort of legislation in place to protect our youth from harmful UV rays emitted by tanning beds.

However, there is still work to be done! Use your voice to help the FDA pass national restrictions on indoor tanning beds.

Here’s how you can help:

Providing a “comment” is a great way to show your support on these topics. Below you can find links to the proposed regulations, as well as information on how to submit a comment in support of these proposed rules.

To comment on the Restricted Sale, Distribution, and Use of Sunlamp Products:

  1. Read the proposed rule.
  2. Submit comments on the proposed rule on Regulations.gov.

To comment on the Amendment to the Performance Standard for Sunlamp Products:

  1. Read the proposed rule.
  2. Submit comments on the proposed rule on Regulations.gov.

The Indoor Tanning Story
Today we know that 35% of American adults, 59% of college students, and 17% of teen have reported using a tanning bed at any time in their lifetime. Close to 30 million people tan indoors in this country annually and of these 2.3 million are teens. In addition more than 70% of these tanning bed users are Caucasian girls and women, aged 16-29. Most startling is that this same group of young women, melanoma is the second most common cancer.

In 2011, the World Health Organization issue a report naming ultraviolet radiation (UV) from both tanning beds and the sun, was a cancer–causing substance. Indoor tanning beds emit UV at a greater amount than the sun and exposure to UV radiation is associated with an increased a risk of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. At the same time, studies have found a 59% increase in the risk of melanoma in those who have been exposed to UV radiation from indoor tanning, and the risk increases with each use.

Multiple studies have shown that the exposure to UV radiation during indoor tanning damages the DNA in the skin cells. Excessive exposure to UV radiation during indoor tanning can lead to premature skin aging, immune suppression and eye damage, including cataracts and ocular melanoma. In addition to these risks, frequent, intentional exposure to UV light may lead to tanning addiction. IMPACT Melanoma along with the American Cancer Society, the American Academy of Dermatology and Melanoma organizations around the county urge everyone to avoid indoor tan and support legislation to ban indoor tanning to teens under age 18. While we would not allow our teens to buy and smoke cigarettes because they cause cancer, the same is true about tanning beds.