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Missouri consumers misled about cancer risk from indoor tanning
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Missouri indoor-tanning facilities frequently mislead consumers regarding skin cancer, ocular damage and premature photoaging risks from UV radiation exposure while inconsistently providing information about the FDA’s guidelines for tanning devices, according to study findings.
To counter the rising rates of melanoma in younger adults related to the expanding indoor-tanning industry, the FDA has supported eye protection, visible warning signs, informed consent, compliance with manufacturer operational instructions and consumer skin assessments before using tanning beds. However, as of March 2012, only 33 states had regulatory laws implementing some or all of these guidelines, which often lack adequate restrictions for minors.
Brundha Balaraman
“Few studies have evaluated the practices of indoor-tanning facilities in states lacking regulations,” Brundha Balaraman, MD, of the division of dermatology at Washington University School of Medicine, and colleagues wrote. “In those studies published, tanning-facility operators were found to be inadequately trained in the use of tanning equipment, to misinform consumers about the potential hazards of UV radiation and to be lenient with FDA guidelines.”
To assess whether tanning facilities in Missouri — a state without indoor-tanning regulations — acted in accordance with the FDA’s recommendations and consistently imparted information to potential clients about the known risks of UV radiation, Balaraman and colleagues conducted a statewide telephone survey of randomly selected tanning facilities in Missouri.
Each of the tanning facilities were surveyed twice, in the morning and evening, on different days, to assess the internal consistency of employee information provided to potential consumers at different times.
According to survey results, 65% of 243 tanning-facilities reported that they would allow children aged 10 to 12 years to use indoor-tanning devices. In addition, 80% of operators disseminated information that indoor tanning would prevent future sunburns, whereas 43% claimed that there were no risks associated with indoor tanning.
Individual facility inconsistencies included allowable age of use, as well as UV radiation exposure type and duration. Employees during the morning shifts were found to be more likely to allow consumers to start with maximum exposure times and UV-A–emitting devices (P<.001), whereas employees on the evening shift were more prone to permit children aged 10 to 12 years to use indoor-tanning devices (P=.008).
“Our results indicate that tanning-facility operators do not consistently provide information regarding known risks of indoor UV [radiation] exposure when communicating with customers and suggest that employees are inadequately educated about the operation of tanning devices,” Balaraman and colleagues wrote.
“Because the majority of adolescents who use tanning beds are older (16 to 18 years old), there is a need for higher age restrictions in states with existent laws. As physicians and patient advocates, we should be at the forefront of educating parents, implementing community programs and supporting legislation that protects children and adults from the harmful effects of UV [radiation]-emitting devices. Consumer and patient education regarding the dangers of indoor tanning are paramount in skin cancer prevention,” they wrote.
Disclosure: The researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.
Perspective
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Wen-Jen Hwu, MD, PhD
Many states in the United States still don’t have legislation to regulate tanning facilities despite scientific evidence showed a 75% increase in the risk of melanoma in those who have been exposed to UV radiation from indoor tanning. Furthermore, the World Health Organization recommends that persons aged younger than 18 years not use tanning devices because of the rising rate of melanoma in younger individuals. Dr. Balaraman and colleagues conducted a statewide telephone survey of randomly selected 243 tanning facilities in the state of Missouri, a state without statewide legislation regulating tanning facilities. Results of this study indicated that tanning facility operators often do not act in accordance with the FDA’s recommendations and consistently imparted information to clients about known risks of UV radiation.
This study has demonstrated that in order to prevent further increase of skin cancer and melanoma, statewide legislation enforcing tanning facilities regulation is paramount. Essential components of the legislation should include not only enforcement of FDA recommendations, but also requirement of anyone aged younger than 15 years to get medical clearance, and those aged 16 to 18 years should get parental consent before tanning bed use.
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