Abstract
* Abbreviations: FDA — : US Food and Drug Administration The article by Balaraman et al1 in this issue of Pediatrics examines practices of indoor tanning facilities in Missouri, 1 of 17 states with no regulations regarding minors’ use of these facilities. More than two-thirds of respondents working at the facilities stated that they would allow children as young as 10 to 12 years old to tan, some without parental consent. More than 40% claimed that there were no tanning-associated health risks. The study’s findings are alarming but unfortunately not surprising given that there is no law in Missouri protecting minors from indoor tanning. Indoor (“artificial”) tanning is a $5 billion dollar industry with 19 000 freestanding salons employing 160 000 individuals.2 Tanning is inexpensive. Access is easy with more tanning salons in an average city than Starbucks or McDonald’s.3 Tanning is especially popular with teenage girls and young women. Data from the national 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey show that 15.6% of high school students (including 25.4% of girls) used an indoor tanning device ≥1 times in the past year; 49% of all patrons (especially female and … Address correspondence to Sophie J. Balk, MD, 1621 Eastchester Rd, Bronx, NY 10461. E-mail: sbalk{at}montefiore.org
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