The federal government said Friday it would ban minors from using indoor tanning beds, taking action on an issue that many states are already handling.
The Food and Drug Administration said the proposed measure was in response to 1.6 million minors using indoor tanning beds each year, according to 2013 federal data.
The problem is that indoor tanning is a “known contributor to skin cancer,” the agency said.
People who have been exposed to radiation from tanning beds are 59 percent more likely to develop melanoma, a dangerous form of skin cancer, than those who never have used the beds, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
Many states have taken action to ban minors, but there is no uniformity across states.
As of July, 14 states ban minors from using tanning beds, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Another 27 states have laws that prohibit some minors from tanning or require a parent or guardian’s permission or accompaniment.
In addition to the FDA’s ban for youths under 18, the proposed rule would alert adult users about the risks of tanning beds.
It would require users to sign a risk acknowledge certificate on the health risks before their first tanning session and every six months thereafter, the agency said.
The FDA also issued a second proposed rule that requires sunlamp manufacturers and tanning facilities to work to improve the safety of devices. They would have to put in an emergency “panic button” to turn off the bed and make warnings easier to read.
“These proposed rules are meant to help adults make their decisions based on truthful information and to ensure manufacturers and tanning facilities take additional steps to improve the safety of these devices,” said acting FDA Commissioner Steven Ostroff.
