FDA Panel Mulls Tanning Bed Ban For Teens Under 18

Federal health experts are now saying that additional restrictions are needed" to protect teenagers from the cancer risks of tanning beds, including a potential ban for people under 18. " (Gaithersburg, MD, AP, 3/25). As a personal injury and products liability attorney, I strongly supports additional guidelines and limitations on tanning bed use, especially for teenagers.

As a possible solution, the Food and Drug Administration recommends "the agency put tighter controls on artificial tanning, ranging from requiring parental consent forms to banning the practice in younger teens." This recommendation takes into consideration the lack of any demonstrated benefit of artificial tanning, something that has become a phenomenon among the high school aged population.

Other experts, however, assert that at this point the evidence is not strong enough to support to total ban. Regardless, several studies have linked artificial tanning to skin cancer, thus the FDA is rightfully evaluating possible regulations.