The manufacturers of indoor tanning equipment are regulated at the federal level. Once manufacturers sell the equipment to a tanning salon, it is generally up to the states to regulate their operations. While 29 states regulate tanning salon operators, the legislation varies in severity and there is limited enforcement. While some states go so far as to prohibit access to tanning booths by minors without parental consent, some require salon owners to post warning signs in a visible location in the salon, and others may only establish educational and training standards for tanning salon operators.

?Even in those states that have some elementary safety regulations, it is not clear who would enforce them,? explained Dr. Spencer. ?That means children and teens have open access to equipment that appears to be utilized in an often careless fashion. We applaud states like Texas, California and Tennessee that have worked feverishly to enact tough legislation restricting the use of indoor tanning facilities, especially among minors. But more states need to take their lead and enforce regulations that limit access to this dangerous activity.?

The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) recently issued a new position statement on indoor tanning, encouraging states to aggressively pursue legislation that protects children and urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take action that will ban the sale and use of tanning equipment for non-medical purposes. Specifically, the AADA supports the following requirements for indoor tanning facilities:

No minor should be permitted to use tanning devices. A Surgeon General?s warning should be placed on all tanning devices.

No person or facility should advertise the use of any Ultraviolet A or Ultraviolet B tanning device using wording such as ?safe,? ?safe tanning,? ?no harmful rays,? ?no adverse effect,? or similar wording or concepts.

?Throughout most of the country, none of the basic safety measures that we are proposing are required,? explained Dr. Spencer. ?Research has shown that indoor tanning is dangerous, and there should be laws to protect children from engaging in this activity as there are from other unhealthy behaviors such as drinking or smoking. We urge all states to take immediate action to prohibit indoor tanning for minors.?

In addition to the AADA?s call for tighter regulations, the AAD is targeting teens with print and broadcast public service announcements (PSAs) on the dangers of tanning that are scheduled to be released nationwide to the media this summer.

?We conducted focus group testing with teens across the country and found that while teens know that overexposure to the sun can cause skin cancer and premature aging, they are reluctant to change their behavior because they feel more attractive with a tan,? said Dr. Spencer. ?For our new PSA campaign, we used this research to develop the messages and images that almost force teens to stop and re-examine their behavior. If we?re successful in getting even one teen to change his or her behavior, that?s one life we eventually might save.?

Diana Clarke is a teacher and the founder of The Sun and Your Skin at www.yourskinandsun.com.

dianaclarke2001@yahoo.com