As noted in the article “From the Nurse’s Office” in the Principal’s Newsletter, U.S tanning salons are thinking about closing their doors to minors.

Teenagers under the age of 18 would need parent permission to use tanning beds. The recent rise in skin cancer among teen tanners has grabbed the attention of over 60,000 pediatricians who have pushed for the ban against minor tanning. Currently in Connecticut, tanners under 16 years of age need parental permission.

However, before the protesting breaks out, teens should look over these facts about tanning:

-People who begin tanning before the age of 35 have a 75% more chance of developing melanoma.

-Nearly 8,700 people die each year from skin cancer.

-24 out of every 10,000 young women who tanned regularly developed melanoma, compared to 17 out of every 10,000 who had never used a tanning bed.

-Eleven states have already issued some type of minor tanning ban.

-One of the latest studies of 1,200 skin cancer patients found that 63% of them admitted to using a commercial tanning device.

-The American Cancer Society predicted that in 2009 there would be 70,000 Americans diagnosed with melanoma, but approximately 108,000 new cases of melanoma were discovered in 2007.

Tanning is clearly a harmful addiction that many teens cannot get enough of.

Why do so many teens continue to use these beds when there are safer alternatives?

The Food and Drug Administration  has approved various self-tanning lotions that do not have any harmful chemicals. Although the store-bought brands may not produce the dramatic results of tanning beds, self-tanners eliminate the risk of skin cancer.