American Academy of Dermatology Commends FDA for Proposing an Age Restriction for Indoor Tanning

Statement for attribution from Mark G. Lebwohl, MD, FAAD, president, American Academy of Dermatology

Newswise — Schaumburg, Ill. (December 18, 2015)–

The American Academy of Dermatology applauds the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for taking a monumental step to protect the public’s health by proposing new regulations governing indoor tanning. These include an age restriction on indoor tanning for minors under the age of 18, as well as a risk acknowledgement form that all adults must sign before using indoor tanning devices. Statistics show that millions of people tan indoors annually and the risk of developing melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer – increases by 59 percent for individuals who have been exposed to UV radiation from indoor tanning. This risk increases with each use of tanning devices. Therefore, dermatologists are extremely pleased that the federal government has recognized the inherent dangers of indoor tanning and is following the lead of the 42 states that have already enacted tanning bed restrictions to potentially reduce this risk.

Restricting teens’ access to indoor tanning and educating all users about the dangers of tanning devices are critical steps to preventing skin cancer. As medical doctors who diagnose and treat skin cancer, dermatologists are committed to reducing its incidence and saving lives. We encourage the FDA to finalize this proposed rule as it would as it would be a historic victory in our nation’s fight to eradicate skin cancer.