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PrintTanning Salons Lie About Health Risks
New reports have been released revealing indoor tanning industry's false and misleading health risks to patrons. These reports describe the false and misleading health information provided to teens by the indoor tanning industry. The reports are based on undercover interviews of tanning salon employees conducted by Committee investigators. The information supports that tanning salons are targeting teenage girls with advertising and promotions that deny known risks of tanning, provide false information on benefits of tanning, and fail to follow recommendations by the Food and Drug Administration on tanning frequency.
The reports explains that the vast majority of tanning salons deny the known risks of indoor tanning and falsely claim that it is beneficial to a young person's health. Health risks are not being accurately relayed, while health benefits are being falsely claimed. Tan skinned equals damaged skin, that is a fact, but instead salons are telling teens that indoor tanning and intense UV rays treats depression, induces Vitamin D production, prevents and treats arthritis, and helps with weight loss, cellulite, and self –esteem. Tanning salons should not be putting young women's health at risk by providing them with false and misleading information.
According to a recent press release fromt he Committee on Energy and Commerce, skin cancer is the second most common form of cancer in America, and studies indicate there is a 75% increase in the risk of melanoma for indoor tanning users. As a result of tanning salons targeting teenagers, melanoma is now the most common form of cancer among young adults 25-29 years old and is one of the fastest growing cancers in the United States and worldwide. In fact, the World Health Organization grades indoor tanning beds as a Group 1 Carcinogen- other Group 1 substances include tobacco smoke and arsenic. The World Health Organization has recommended stricter legislation that would prohibit the use of indoor tanning for those under 18 years of age.
If interested in further educating yourself or your teens on indoor tanning dangers, the US House of Representatives Committees on Energy and Commerce Minority Staff have released a report,
"False and Misleading Health Information Provided to Teens by
the Indoor Tanning Industry" available here.