The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is dropping plans to ban people under age 18 from using tanning beds.
The agency said in the Federal Register Monday that “it no longer intends to finalize the proposed rule.”
The American Academy of Dermatology Association is disappointed that the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, is withdrawing its proposed rule on sunlamp regulation, which would have restricted individuals under 18 from using sunlamps and require all prospective users to read and sign a risk acknowledgement certification before use.
“Exposure to UV radiation from indoor tanning devices is associated with an increased risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, as well as nonmelanoma skin cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma,” the association said in a statement.
The association said using tanning beds before age 20 can increase the risk of developing melanoma by 47 percent, and the risk rises with each use. In addition, adolescents who begin indoor tanning before age 18 are more likely to continue their behavior into adulthood.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Current estimates are that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. It’s estimated that about 9,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with skin cancer, and nearly 20 Americans die from melanoma every day.
“Restricting teens’ access to indoor tanning and informing the public about the dangers of indoor tanning are critical to preventing skin cancer,” the association said. “As medical doctors who diagnose and treat skin cancer, dermatologists are committed to reducing its incidence and saving lives.”
The association said it encourages the reintroduction of the proposed rule by the FDA.
Twenty-two states and Washington, D.C., have enacted bans on indoor tanning for individuals younger than 18 years. Another 22 states have laws that restrict minors’ use of tanning beds.
Again, it’s up to states to protect the American public as the Trump administration cuts regulations, with those related to public health no exception.
Photo: savv
