Texas Lawmakers Move to Ban Underage Tanning

Posted Mar 19th 2009 at 3:00PM by Josh Loposer (Subscribe to Josh Loposer's posts)

Underage tanning. Unless you live in a suburb of Dallas or have a passion for following nanny state politics, this term is probably somewhat foreign to you -- but it might not be for long. Lawmakers in Texas are actually debating right now on whether the state should pass a ban on tanning for those under the age of 18. Look, we've heard of some seriously dangerous forms of tan-orexia, but should teen tanning really be outlawed completely?

There's no doubt that spending hours in a tanning bed poses some health risks, and it's certainly not the most natural or inexpensive way to get that sought after bronze complexion. Still, we weren't aware that a major tanning epidemic was threatening life as we know it, and worse ... the children.

Says crusading state Rep. Burt Solomon of Carrolton (Dallas suburia): "This is just like big tobacco ... These guys are basically luring teens in."

Of course, the argument being foisted on the public here is that tanning beds increase a person's risk of melanoma -- and thus are kinda sorta like smoking cigarettes. Cigarettes are banned for those under 18. Why shouldn't tanning be banned as well?

"If people want to go get ready for prom, they can go get sprayed with self-tanning agents -- those are totally safe," says Dr. Sharon Raimer, president of the Texas Dermatological Society.

Currently, Texas law requires underagers to secure parental permission in order to access the wonderful world of UV tanning. The proposed law would only permit tanning with a doctor's note, so that teens would be forced to talk with their doctor about the risks of tanning.

Weird. With that kind of liability, do you think doctors would actually provide notes to allow their underage patients to tan?

Source

Tags: big tobacco, BigTobacco, carcinogens, Carrollton, Dallas, DFW, lawmakers, melanoma, nanny state, NannyState, suburbia, tanning, Texas, underage tanning, UnderageTanning

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Joe 3-24-2009 @ 6:37PM

Regarding Dr. Sharon Raymer and her comment "go get sprayed with self-tanning agents -- those are totally safe,"

Please share this information from the FDA's website..."FDA has received reports from consumers stating that they have experienced adverse events associated with sunless tanning, including rashes and, primarily in the case of spray tanning booths, coughing, dizziness, and fainting. the use of DHA in "tanning" booths as an all-over spray has not been approved by the FDA, since safety data to support this use has not been submitted to the Agency for review and evaluation, When using DHA-containing products as an all-over spray or mist in a commercial spray "tanning" booth, it may be difficult to avoid exposure in a manner for which DHA is not approved, including the area of the eyes, lips, or mucous membrane, or even internally.

Consequently, FDA advises asking the following questions when considering commercial facilities where DHA is applied by spraying or misting:

Are consumers protected from exposure in the entire area of the eyes, in addition to the eyes themselves?
Are consumers protected from exposure on the lips and all parts of the body covered by mucous membrane?
Are consumers protected from internal exposure caused by inhaling or ingesting the product?

Val 4-28-2009 @ 7:15PM

Tanning is in no way similar to smoking. Smoking is an unnatural habit. Tanning is the natural way for the skin to protect itself from burning. THis is absolutely ridiculous. If anything tanning in a tanning bed is much safer than out in the sun. Tanning in a bed is in a controlled environment.