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Florida’s indoor tanning salons outnumber other major businesses

Florida, which does not restrict tanning device use by age, has more indoor tanning facilities than many other prevalent businesses, according to recently published findings.

Researchers obtained information from the Florida Department of Health regarding registered indoor tanning facilities. An Internet search and direct contact with facilities also were conducted, with the facilities categorized by services provided.

There were 1,261 licensed indoor tanning facilities in October 2012, or one salon for every 15,113 Floridians and 1.16 tanning facilities per every 50 square miles. Compared with other frequently visited businesses, there were more Bank of America ATMs (n=1,455), but fewer Bank of America branches (n=624), CVS pharmacies (n=693), Publix grocery stores (n=756) and McDonald’s locations (n=868) than indoor tanning facilities.

“Tanning only” was the most common indoor facility by type (39.5%), followed by “beauty, hair, nail” (22.8%), fitness (21.7%) residential (7.5%) and “spa/wellness/massage” (6.8%).

Many of Florida’s indoor facilities operated within residential facilities serving college students, the researchers reported. Eighty-eight of 94 residential locations offering indoor tanning provided complimentary tanning for residents, with the only limitation being once-daily use.

Florida has the second highest incidence of melanoma in the United States.

“Further investigation of the impact of indoor tanning facility type, geographic location and use on skin cancer incidence may promote regulation of these carcinogenic devices and guide health interventions,” the researchers concluded. “Moreover, efforts to restrict false advertising and complimentary indoor tanning may be warranted.”

Disclosure: Researcher Robert S. Kirsner, MD, PhD, has served as a consultant to Organogenesis, Healthpoint, KCI, Keraplast, Shire and Mölnlycke.