As Seen In Expressly My Health 

The American Medical Association (AMA) supports enacting federal legislation to prohibit the use of indoor tanning equipment by anyone under the age of 18. The physicians passed new policy supporting federal legislation at their June 18-22 annual meeting in Chicago, IL.

The AMA's new policy adds to the growing national and international support from leading health authorities, including the World Health Organization, to eliminate young people's exposure to the dangerous ultraviolet (UV) radiation of indoor tanning beds and sun lamps.

"UV radiation is an acknowledged source of skin cancer, leads to premature aging of the skin and can have a damaging effect on one's eyes and the body's immune system," said AMA Trustee Ronald M. Davis, M.D. "Children and teens are still growing and undergoing rapid development, so it's particularly critical that we take the necessary steps to help ensure their long-term health and well-being."

The policy supports the enactment of legislation to set age restrictions for indoor tanning equipment use and to require that a U.S. Surgeon General's warning - linking the correlation between UV radiation, the use of indoor tanning equipment and the incidence of skin cancer - be prominently displayed on all indoor tanning equipment.

"While many Americans recognize that tanning leads to skin cancer, they also continue to harbor the misconception that a tan is a sign of health," said dermatologist Clay J. Cockerell, M.D., president of the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy). "The dangers of deliberate tanning for cosmetic purposes - both in natural sunlight and through the use of artificial light sources, such as sunlamps and tanning beds - are real and potentially deadly. That is why dermatologists and other physicians encourage people to adopt sun-smart habits to make a difference to their health later in life."

Damage caused to the skin by exposure to UV radiation should always be taken seriously and there is significant research that such damage caused in early years can be particularly harmful. Though the Academy recommends that no one use indoor tanning equipment, the organization is particularly concerned about the use of such equipment by children and teens who may not be prepared to make an informed decision, taking into account all potential risks.

More than one million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. every year, and incidence is increasing. One in five Americans are now expected to develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime. Most troubling is that the incidence of melanoma - the most serious of all skin cancers - has more than tripled among Caucasians in the last 25 years.

According to a recent survey sponsored by the Academy, more than one in four (26 percent) young people under age 25 have used a tanning bed within the last year, despite awareness of potential future consequences such as skin cancer.

"Many people don't realize that a tan is an indication that damage to the skin has occurred," said Dr. Cockerell. "The medical community needs to continually educate young people that ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds causes premature aging and increases the risk for future skin cancer. If you want to look like you've been in the sun, do it safely with a sunless self-tanning product and continue to use sunscreen."

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