FDA Mulls Stricter Regulations on the Use of Tanning Beds

Personal Injury Law – January 19, 2010

Washington - After several studies linking tanning beds to a significant increase of skin cancer cases in the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced plans to impose a stricter regulation on the use of this equipment.

Sharon Miller, FDA’s UV radiation specialist, said that while the agency “does not recommend using tanning beds”, it is planning to implement a stricter regulation to lower the risk of cancer among consumers.

Health regulators said that tanning beds have a warning sign but not “big enough” to be seen by people.

“It is important that consumers know the whole process and the risk associated with the use of tanning beds”, FDA said.

However, manufacturers said there is no scientific basis to justify FDA’s plan to impose stricter rules on tanning beds, arguing that any risk associated with these can be avoided by reducing the visits in tanning salon.

“Avoiding overexposure and sunburn makes the use of the equipment relatively safer that sunbathing”, Indoor Tanning Association President Dan Humiston said in an interview.

However, FDA said that people who use tanning beds three times a week increase the risk of melanoma which is the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Last year, about 69,000 Americans were diagnosed with melanoma and more than 8,600 people died from this type of skin cancer.

Several studies suggested that the use of tanning beds at the very young age increases the risk of melanoma by up to 75 percent.