F.D.A. Proposes Ban on Indoor Tanning for Minors to Fight Skin Cancer (This article appeared in the December 19th 2015, NY Times)
“The Food and Drug Administration on Friday proposed barring everyone under 18 from using tanning beds, a sweeping move that medical experts say is a major step toward reducing the risk of skin cancer in the United States.”
The incidence of melanoma has been steadily rising over the past two decades. Importantly, as this article states, “death rates [from melanoma] have not gone up, however, a testament to earlier detection and better treatment.” This may not be a result of early detection and treatment, but because pathologists are calling lesions melanoma that would not have been labeled as such in the past (diagnostic drift) or because melanomas that are stimulated by artificial UVL behave less aggressively than melanomas that are caused in other ways.
Demonizing “tanning parlors” may well be attacking a soft target. Still, we agree that regulating the use of artificial tanning facilities, especially for minors (who appear at increased risk) is prudent. Thinking that this is based on good science, may be off the mark.