By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — A proposed bill backed by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the Maine Medical Association and the American Academy of Dermatology would prohibit the use of indoor tanning equipment by all minors in the state. Sponsored by Sen. Geoffrey Gratwick (D-Bangor), LD 272, “An Act To Reduce Youth Cancer Risk,” would make it illegal for indoor tanning facilities to allow minors to use tanning beds, booths or other devices such as sunlamps.
Dr. David Horne, a dermatologist at The Aroostook Medical Center, said he was glad to hear about the proposed legislation.
“Only 36 states regulate indoor tanning by minors even though the World Health Organization clearly states that this should be prohibited as it causes skin cancer,” he said.
Tanning beds emit ultraviolet radiation (UVR), which is a known carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) like cigarette smoke.
“Exposure to UVR through a tanning bed markedly increases one’s risk of developing skin cancer,” said Horne. “When patients ask me if it’s safe or OK to tan ‘just a little,’ I try to make it more concrete by asking, ‘Is it safe to smoke just a few cigarettes a day?’
“Any intentional exposure to a known cancer-causing agent is unwise,” he said. “It amazes me how many parents forbid their children from smoking but pay for their use of tanning beds.”
Adolescents are at a greater risk of skin cancer as their skin has not yet fully developed.
“The negative effects of UVR exposure are cumulative over time. Earlier exposure to UVR, particularly burns, leads to the potential for more skin cancer in the future,” said Horne. “Recent studies suggest that indoor tanning is associated with a 75 percent increased risk of developing melanoma, one of the most deadly skin cancers. Unfortunately, adolescents usually don’t have enough experience to understand this delayed risk.
“If a 15-year-old girl wants to be tan by the weekend, the risk of skin cancer in the future is a poor deterrent. That is why legislative action is being taken across the country to make it more difficult for minors to make poor decisions regarding their health,” he said. “Limiting advertising and access to cigarettes by minors made a big reduction in use by this age group. They are similar public health issues and I imagine we will see similar results with successful legislation.”
While some proponents of tanning suggest that it provides vitamin D and even a “mood boost,” Horne said there are healthier ways to elevate one’s mood.
“UVR creates vitamin D in the body. This is exactly the same vitamin D that is obtained through food or supplements. UVR causes cancer; vitamin D containing foods and supplements do not,” he said. “If a patient is concerned about her vitamin D level, a simple blood test can determine the level, and her physician can recommend safe supplementation if necessary.
“Many people report mood elevation after indoor tanning. Some experts believe this is from endorphin release. Endorphins are chemicals released by the body to control pain, particularly in response to trauma and tissue damage,” said Horne. “It makes sense that endorphins might increase after irradiating the body’s largest organ.”
Horne said it’s been his experience that young people usually want to tan because they think they “look better” that way.
“Tanning may also temporarily camouflage other imperfections in the skin such as acne or scars. Coco Chanel is credited with establishing this trend that ‘tan is healthy and beautiful’ decades ago, but attitudes are definitely changing,” he said. “Look at any fashion magazine and you’ll see many fewer crispy bodies than you did even 10 years ago.
“For patients who want to temporarily darken their skin, there are many safe and very convincing sunless tanning products on the market. These products are very sophisticated now … not the goop that made you look orange and streaky from years ago,” said Horne. “I’ve been fooled many times while examining patients. Sunless tanners are less expensive than tanning salons and don’t cause premature skin aging or cancer.”
If the bill is approved, Maine would join Vermont and California as the only states in the nation that ban indoor tanning by minors.
