Tanning Lotion

Tanning lotions are lotions designed to promote tanning of the skin.  However, a sun tan is a symptom of skin damage.  Today, the Food and Drug Administration requires tanning lotions that do not contain sunscreen ingredients to carry the following warning:

"Warning--This product does not contain a sunscreen and does not protect against sunburn. Repeated exposure of unprotected skin while tanning may increase the risk of skin aging, skin cancer and other harmful effects to the skin even if you do not burn." (Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 740.19).

A major misconception about tanning lotions and tanning salons is that a tanning bed session, which primarily involves UVA exposure, is safe.  The misperception is that because UVA does not burn, it does not harm.

In fact, UVA rays increase the risk of skin cancer, particularly melanoma. In May 2000 the National Institutes of Health (NIH) added sun lamps and tanning beds to the list of known human carcinogens (substances knows to cause cancer). Two years later, the NIH added broad-spectrum ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and specifically stated that each component - UVA, UVB and UVC was reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.

While 70% of tanning bed users are adult women, every year more than 2 million teenagers, typically teenage girls, visit tanning salons in the United States. As a consequence, skin cancers are showing up at much younger ages. A number of states have laws to keep children from using tanning beds.  Melanoma is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in young women – most likely due to their increased use of tanning salons.

A survey conducted in February 2007 found that 74% of American dermatologists were in favor of a $0.50 user fee per session in tanning salons to pay for sun safety education programs and offset the public healthcare costs of skin cancers.

However, until more state legislators understand the need to provide protection, it is up to you. Do not use tanning beds! Teach your children, especially teens, about the dangers of tanning beds - that tanning beds cause irreversible damage to skin and to the immune system.