NEW LAW REGULATES TANNING BED WARNING LABELS
In a new law directed towards the tanning industry, President Bush signed the Tanning Accountability and Notification Act (TAN Act). The act will govern the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as they regulate tanning equipment. The FDA will re-examine the language and positioning of the warning label on indoor tanning devices to make sure consumers understand the risks involved.

“Until now, the tanning industry has not been carefully regulated. This law is an important step in the right direction,” said Perry Robbins, MD, president of The Skin Cancer Foundation. “We know that all UV rays are directly linked to skin cancer, and we believe it will help people understand the dangers of tanning.”

To monitor the effectiveness of this law, the FDA will conduct consumer testing to make sure the public understands the new labeling system. After the law has been in place for one year, the Secretary of Health and Human Services will report back to Congress to report their findings.

Tanning Facts
• Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a proven human carcinogen, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 
• Exposure to tanning beds before age 35 increases melanoma risk by 75 percent. 
• Nearly 30 million people tan indoors in the U.S. annually; 2.3 million of them are teens.
• On an average day in the U.S., more than 1 million people tan in tanning salons; 70% are Caucasian women aged 16-49.
• People who use tanning beds are 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma. 
• Occasional use of tanning beds almost triples the chances of developing melanoma.
• New high-pressure sunlamps emit doses of UVR that can be as much as 15 times that of the sun.
• The indoor tanning industry has an estimated revenue of $5 billion.
• Up to 90 percent of the visible skin changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun. These changes can be seen as early as in one’s 20’s.