Is indoor tanning really safer than basking outdoors?
Of course not, say dermatologists. But a new survey by the American Academy of Dermatology suggests the message isn't reaching female tanners who might falsely believe that tanning beds are safer than natural sunlight.
Overall, 30 percent of respondents stated they had not seen warning labels on tanning bans. In addition, 43 percent reported not receiving a verbal warning about the health risks associated with UV rays.
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Teens between the ages of 14 and 17 were mostly unaware of skin cancer risks associated with tanning.
The data come from 3,800 white women between the ages of 14 and 22. It's unclear whether respondents previously knew about tanning risks from other sources such as medical professionals, educators or media outlets.
The survey's results, along with other studies, may account for a push to pass the Tanning Bed Cancer Control Act, which has been floating in U.S. congressional committees since 2010. If passed, the bill would tighten control over tanning bed use, but details of whether businesses would have to "verbally warn" customers haven't been established.
Other clinicians and researchers are calling for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to increase its efforts to warn the public about the adverse effects of tanning beds. Although more than 30 states already have legislation to better regulate indoor tanning, doctors think a federal standard is needed, especially since artificial UV light is a known carcinogen.
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Along these lines, some argue tanning beds should be regulated and taxed like cigarettes.
In 2009, researchers released data from 20 studies showing that melanoma, a severe form of skin cancer, rose by nearly 75 percent among individuals who began using tanning beds before the age of 30, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
The World Health Organization discourages the use of tanning beds for cosmetic purposes, but promotes their use under the supervision of medical expertise for patients living with vitamin D deficiencies.
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Tags: Cancer, Safety and Prevention
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