Health News
Parents should talk to kids about dangers of tanning beds
With teens expected to turn to tanning beds in the fall to keep their bronzy summer glow, parents are encouraged to talk about the dangers of "fake baking."
"Using tanning beds before age 30 increases a person's risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, by 75 percent, research shows," said Dennis Hughes, assistant professor of pediatrics at M.D. Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital in Houston. "So, it's important to talk to your kids about tanning beds just like you'd discuss smoking, sex, drugs and alcohol."
Research-reporting service Newswise says 35 percent of 17-year-old girls have used tanning beds. One study showed tanning beds are addictive, with 80 percent of college kids who habitually tan saying they could not stop. Access to the facilities is easy, with an analysis of 116 American cities showing that tanning salons outnumber Starbucks or McDonald's.
Parent should talk to their children before they start frequenting tanning facilities, Hughes said. Children should know tanning beds emit the same harmful ultraviolet light as the sun and, consequently, are not safe. Rather than making them look attractive, "explain that tanning will actually make them look worse" in the long run, Hughes advised. (Read more)
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Teens Continue To Use Indoor Tanning, In Spite Of Risks; Ky. Law Lax
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Fda Issues Warning Label For Tanning Bed Use By Minors; Sponsor Of Bill For A State Ban Says He Will Try Again
Soon tanning beds will have a "black box" warning that those younger than 18 should not be using them, but some doctors, tanning companies and legislators do not think this will be sufficient to keep minors from tanning. "Consequently, some want a new...
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Senate Committee Kills Bill To Keep Minors From Using Tanning Beds
Legislation to ban minors from using tanning beds fell two votes short of passing the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Wednesday. The bill, which passed the House 61-31, would have prohibited anyone under the age of 18 from using tanning beds. Kentucky...
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State House Panel Approves Bills To Require Hpv Vaccinations Of Boys And Girls And Ban Use Of Tanning Beds By Children
The state House Health and Welfare Committee approved two bills Thursday to require that boys and girls to be vaccinated for the human papilloma virus before sixth grade and to generally ban use of tanning beds for those under 18. HPV causes cervical...
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Protecting Your Skin
Dermatologist Sean T. Gunning, M.D., addressed a full house at Wednesday?s Lunch and Learn session at the Alvin & Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute. Thanks to the graphic images he shared of skin damage, either aging or skin cancer-related, it?s a safe...
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