Health News
- Teens Continue To Use Indoor Tanning, In Spite Of Risks; Ky. Law Lax
Kentucky teenagers are continuing to use indoor tanning in spite of the risks. Though tanning-bed use by children is illegal in 17 states and Washington, D.C., it is allowed in Kentucky. The Kentucky House passed a bill that would have made it illegal...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...
- Panel Oks Bill To Ban Children Under 14 From Tanning Booths
A bill that would prevent children under the age of 14 from bronzing their skin at tanning booths cleared the House's Health and Welfare Committee Tuesday. House Bill 338 will now move to the full House for consideration. The bill is sponsored by...
Health News
Teens are misinformed about risks of tanning beds, and are not being warned at salons
With swimsuit season just around the corner, the American Academy of Dermatology has found that more than 40 percent of people who tan have never heard from tanning salon employees about the dangers of tanning beds. This comes days after the Tanning Bed Cancer Control Act was introduced by U.S. Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and Charlie Dent (R-Pa.). It calls on the Food and Drug Administration to reclassify indoor tanning beds and require warning labels on the equipment about the dangers of ultraviolet light.
"Studies have found that UV radiation from indoor tanning beds increases a person's risk of developing melanoma by 75 percent," said dermatologist Dr. Ronald L. Moy, president of the dermatology academy. "Contributing to this problem is the fact that tanning bed facilities currently are not required to verbally warn patrons of the known health risks of ultraviolet radiation and, in some cases, they may be misleading the public by falsely promoting artificial UV light as safer than natural sunlight."
The report found tanning bed users from 14 to 17 are "more than twice as likely to think tanning beds are safer than the sun than older tanners age 18 to 22 ... and more than three times as likely to think that tanning beds do not cause skin cancer," the research-reporting service Newswise reports.
"The FDA currently ranks tanning beds as a Class I medical device, which provides a minimal level of regulation and oversight similar to bandages, tongue depressors, gauze and crutches," Moy said. "That is why it's important that the FDA change the classification of indoor tanning devices to reflect the significant health risks that they pose." (Read more)
Earlier this year in the Kentucky General Assembly, state Rep. David Watkins of Henderson introduced a bill that would prevent children under 14 from using tanning booths. The bill, which was backed by the Kentucky Medical Association and the American Cancer Society, cleared the House's Health and Welfare Committee but went no further.
- Teens Continue To Use Indoor Tanning, In Spite Of Risks; Ky. Law Lax
Kentucky teenagers are continuing to use indoor tanning in spite of the risks. Though tanning-bed use by children is illegal in 17 states and Washington, D.C., it is allowed in Kentucky. The Kentucky House passed a bill that would have made it illegal...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...
- Panel Oks Bill To Ban Children Under 14 From Tanning Booths
A bill that would prevent children under the age of 14 from bronzing their skin at tanning booths cleared the House's Health and Welfare Committee Tuesday. House Bill 338 will now move to the full House for consideration. The bill is sponsored by...