Teen girls in states that have stringent laws pertaining to indoor tanning, are less likely to engage in the same when compared to peers in states that do not have any such legal restrictions.
A new CDC study, published in the American Journal of Public Health on February 13, has revealed that indoor tanning salons are less popular with teen girls in states with laws on the same
Research has shown that there is a strong correlation between the use of tanning beds and high risk of skin cancer. Approximately 3.5 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancers are treated each year in the U.S. and over 60,000 melanomas are diagnosed. Melanomas are the most deadly of skin cancers and has been on a rise, especially in young women.
The current study was led by Dr. Gery Guy at CDC's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, who analyzed government data on U.S. high school students in grades 9 to 12 from 2009 and 2011. Dr. Guy and his team inspected details of each state's indoor tanning laws as well.
The study looked at the relationship between the state laws on indoor tanning and the teen's tanning behavioral patterns. The study found that 23.4 percent and 6.5 percent of girls and boys, respectively, engaged in indoor tanning.
However, indoor tanning among teen girls was 30 percent lower in states with indoor tanning laws when compared to those without any.
Moreover, states that had laws pertaining to system access (i.e. warning signs, restricted advertising and use of mandated protective eyewear), parental permission and age restriction, the use of indoor tanning by teen girls was 42 percent lower when compared to states that had no restrictions.
Interestingly, having no restrictive laws did not affect the use of indoor tanning by teen boys.
"State indoor tanning laws, especially age restrictions, may be effective in reducing indoor tanning among our nation's youth," said Dr. Guy. "We need to address the harms of indoor tanning, especially among children. Indoor tanning laws can be part of a comprehensive effort to prevent skin cancers and change social norms around tanned skin."
Presently, six U.S. states i.e. California, Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, Texas and Vermont have state laws that restrict the use of indoor tanning by individuals younger than 18. Per the CDC, several other states are "either considering new youth access legislation or strengthening existing laws."
