Winter in the U.S. is often associated with reduced exposure to the sun, which means no tan. With class proms and pageants on their minds, teenagers find this time of year irritating. After all, nothing puts the finishing touch on that perfect gown or tuxedo like a tan. And, with tanning salons still peppering shopping malls across the nation in spite of research linking them to melanoma, it’s easy enough to put fear aside, duck inside for ten minutes, and come out looking as though you’ve spent a day in southern Florida.
But, tans aren’t the only thing teens acquire in tanning beds. The need to look beautiful during the winter months is what researchers are blaming for an increased presence of skin cancer in young adults and teens.
Recent research by the National Cancer Institute estimates that tanning beds account for as many 400,000 cases of skin cancer in the U.S. each year, including 6,000 cases of melanoma, the deadliest form. Clinicians are concerned with the rate of melanoma in women under 40, which has risen by a third since the early 1990s.
Lawmakers have tried to bring more attention to the risk of tanning by implementing a tanning tax, putting tanning beds in a risker category of recreational health concerns, and encouraging states to restrict use for minors. In fact, since 2011 more than 40 states have adopted some sort of legislation that restricts the use of tanning salons by minors. However, not all state laws are written to prevent adolescents from using tanning beds in gyms or spas.
Harsher laws and increased tanning tax could be responsible for last year’s decline in reported teen tanning use. Yes, teen tanning is reportedly on the decline, yet skin cancer rates are increasing. Researchers suspect the contradictive data is a result of fewer teens tanning—but those who do tan, tan frequently.
Among some high school girls who admitted to tanning, some said they would go twice a day. One student interviewed by the New York Times said tanning made her feel “more confident and more comfortable when I walk around. Sometimes it makes me feel thinner—it has all these weird effects that just make me feel better about myself.”
Another student told researchers that she used extra sunscreen on moles while tanning and was part of her High School’s melanoma awareness club, but the social pressure to be tan was hard to resist. “It’s what teens do,” she said simply.
Bringing continuous awareness to the health risks of tanning salons can help to further decrease the number of tanning teens. Share with parents current news and health reports in monthly newsletters—especially around prom and pageant season—and encourage faculty and staff to draw attention away from the “tanned is beautiful” stereotype when possible. For a list of quick facts about teen tanning risks to share with parents, students, and employees from the Skin Cancer Foundation, click here.
Additional ISM resources:
ISM Monthly Update for Risk Managers Vol. 2 No. 5 Students, Accidents, and Your School’s Liability
ISM Monthly Update for Business Officers Vol. 10 No. 2 Reducing Student Risk With Up-To-Date Medical Records
ISM Monthly Update for Risk Managers Vol. 4 No. 7 Recognizing Heatstroke in Athletic Students
