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Mama Fox I was on a local news website and a recent top story was about a new bill in Texas that if passed would require doctor's permission for anyone under 18 to use tanning facilities, following suit of the other 29 states that have similar laws, including California.
The American Cancer Society recommends avoiding tanning devices, especially among those under age 18 because up to 80 percent of an individual's lifetime sun exposure occurs during those early years.
About tanning beds by the Skin Care Guide explains the types of UV light used in tanning beds and what they can do to your skin.
Tanning is so popular with young girls that they may go as often as every day of the week to keep their tans. More tanning equals more cancer and the World Health Organization (WHO) is
warning about the dangers of tanning, not only with skin cancer, but also eye damage, permanent skin aging, and it may even harm the immune system.
I worry that passing laws like this would "force" teens to do more tanning naturally, by laying in the sun and doing even more damage to themselves. I think that instead of banning outright we should step up efforts to educate the public, specifically the young girls that are the main source of business of the tanning salons.
Do you think teens should be banned from using tanning beds? Why or why not?
Comments (74)
I just can't believe it was allowed '-_-
I have mixed feelings about this - on one hand, everyone does things that are bad for them (eat too much, drink too much, smoke, not exercise enough, go to the tanning bed, not brush their teeth enough, etc.) but still that's a personal lifestyle choice.
On the other hand, everyone likes to make a big deal about preventing cancer & it seems like tanning is often overlooked, despite the fact that it's an known cause of skin cancer.
Meh, I think it's pretty stupid how people are endangering their lives just to get a different skin color shade. I'M PALE AND PROUD. Seriously some people abuse it and turn out by looking like oompah loompahs. However I do believe it is there decision if they want to do this or not, and I dont think it should be banned.
I would rather see a law limiting the use, not banning it all together. Besides natural sunlight is a lot healthier than a tanning bed anyway. Sun screen companies use a lot of scare tactics to get people to use their products daily and that is not as necessary as most people think.
I don't use tanning beds, and I'm a 15 year old girl. I tan very, very easily though, and therefore have no need for it. I only burn if I wear sunscreen, as crazy as that sounds, but it doesn't worry me.
Teens aren't supposed to smoke, either...
I agree with the intention of the law, but it would be pretty hard to put it into practice. Maybe making people pay higher health insurance premiums if they've used tanning beds would be a better way to go (much like what happens with smokers).
Eh. I think they should lower the age to 16 or 17 since its not a real immediate threat, but I definitely agree with having teens require a doctors note.
I think its better for them to go outside and get a tan naturally instead of sitting under UV bulbs.
I totally support an age limit for tanning beds. In my experience, most of the people who run those places are totally unethical. They tell fibs like telling my best friend that the rays won't age her if she uses the $50 lotion (don't we all wish moisturizer actually prevented wrinkles!). Worse, I am extremely pale, burn in 15 minutes of real sun without sunblock, and in about an hour with SPF 45. Whenever I meet a tanning salon owner, it's always the hard sale about how I NEED a tan, and how just 10 minutes won't hurt, and it will actually tan me instead of burning since it's different rays than the sun. That is no joking matter (especially since the sun-avoiding grandmother I inherited this complexion from has had 5 melanomas!)
I think the government should stay out of that kind of stuff. It should be the parent who says whether the teenager can go tan or not. It's hard to say "But what if they don't know the risks?!" as much as the risks of tanning are thrown around.
I agree with some of the comments - it should be limited not banned because the more strict you are something the more likely teens are going to go to extremes and cutcorners just to tan. I think there was a saying that you can better the security but you'll only get a smarter criminal.
lol. and here i am trying not to tan that much. i tan very easily (in two weeks in feb, toronto was above -5C so i ran in shorts and i already have a tan). I just seem to get darker every year. People, if you want to tan I suggest you go out and run everyday and having a tan isn't just that great.
@Blue_Dragon_Designs@xanga - I agree with you that tanning should be limited; but for all ages, not just teens. Ive seen quite a few professionals who are disgustingly orange/brown from tanning too much. Even if people are spending more time outdoors to get a real tan, at least they're outside - young people don't do enough of that anymore!
I agree with the above statement someone made about it being the parent's decision....or it SHOULD be the parent's decision. I totally agree, and I think tanning salon's should not allow a minor to tan without written permission from a parent. One of my daughter's worked at a tanning salon as a teenager and I would not allow her to tan. Permission was not needed but she knew if she came home after tanning I would have known and she would have been quitting that job. The owner (who we knew personally) thought I was ridiculous, but I didn't care! She was never big on laying out in the sun and not using a tanning bed didn't push her into doing that either, as someone else said.
I don't think a law to ban teen tanning is taking away freedoms or anything - but yes you're right, it would cause them to take other options to get their tans.
The reason it wouldn't take away any freedoms is this: they are KIDS. It's just like how alcohol is illegal to those under 21 or how those under 18 can't vote.
But these girls are ultimately harming themselves and many of them ARE educated. If they can afford to tan themselves like that, their families are obviously able to afford schooling (public schools are free anyway!) and thus the girls have at least HEARD of cancer and its causes and results. These girls know what's up - they are just too caught up in their looks to care. That isn't necessarily bad but in the end they will pay for their choices. Might as well let them learn their lessons the hard way...
I don't think personal issues about burning/not burning/cancer history shouldn't be taken into account. Really? "My mother has melanoma, so we should ban everyone from doing it," doesn't make sense.
Personally, I think underage tanning is ridiculous. Too many middle schoolers with mothers who want to be their daughters' best friend are taking their kids to go tan because it's the coolest thing to do, ever. I didn't see the inside of a tanning bed until I was 18, and even then, I was never a regular user.
However, I don't think a ban like that will work, and just like abortion, I think it will only make black-market-tanning more rampant and at times more dangerous. It isn't going to stop tanning salons from taking kids' money without permission slips, but it could lower the quality of the facilities, because I'm not sure they could report anything they made unlawfully (? but I'm not sure about that, I may be way off base...).
I'd rather they tan with knowledge of the risks, and with their parent's permissions, than in scummy, dirty beds that haven't been cleaned or properly cared for. When I first started my membership, I had to sign a form stating that I understood every one of their listed risks, required by law.
Just because you don't like the idea of tanning doesn't mean that it should be illegal.
@YourJennifer@xanga - You can't limit people's tan times if they're adults. That's just infringement of basic rights - although those rights may cause harmful health ailments to said adults. I can understand minors (although I say let them learn the lessons the hard way) but there is no justification for taking away tanning rights from adults.
In general, I'm against tons of legislation. But I don't think children under the age of 18 should be able to tan without a parent's permission. I agree that it may cause more teens to tan outside, but I think the law sounds good.
Personally, I'd rather have a law to ban Teen Titans. You just know Cyborg and that sneaky Beast Boy are up to no good when our backs are turned.
I think its bullshit I mean. Teens should be able to do exactly what they want.
i don't use the tanning bed alot. just when i need a really good tan. Like for senior pictures, my tan is starting to go away and and i want to look good in the pics and for prom too. but i'll probly be laying out in the sun durning spring break b4 prom.
@greatsneha@xanga - I don't get why teens rights should be infringed upon and not the rights of adults. it's all the same.
@YourJennifer@xanga - But their rights are not being infringed because they still have the option of using the tanning salon - they just need their parents' permission. This is not new - minors need parents' permission for like everything.
I think it should be banned. It's just not necessary to tan so much that you look like almost orange. It's disgusting.
A girl I knew during my sophomore year of high school had been tanning everyday and developed melanoma.. And she was only a sophomore!
I wanted to be like, "Ha bitch!"
Everyone thinks, "Oh, cancer won't happen to me!"
It's stupid as hell.
I think that there should be strict enforcements as to how often an individual should go --- to keep up a tan, you only really need to go 3-4 times a week.
I also think that places that offer tanning should require someone to at least receive information on tanning properly/correctly, if not having a session or something with them.
I totally agree that more info and education is very helpful. Perhaps that should be another topic covered in teen health classes at school since it's so popular with teen girls! I do think it should be banned.