Setting Age Limits for Tanning Bed Use Could Save Thousands of Lives

Restricting individuals younger than 18 from using indoor tanning beds could prevent thousands of skin cancers and deaths in the United States. According to the report, this restriction could prevent nearly 62,000 melanoma cases and more than 6,700 melanoma deaths over the lifetime of Americans who are currently 14 and younger. Furthermore, it would translate to a savings of nearly $343 million in melanoma treatment costs alone. Dr. Abel Torres, president of the American Academy of Dermatology Association concludes, “We hope this study motivates the [Food and Drug Administration] to save lives and lower healthcare costs by finalizing this proposal as soon as possible. Moreover, we hope these dramatic figures remind the public, especially young people, to stay out of indoor tanning beds.”
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, December 2016