Indoor tan bans.

Hanson, Karmen

States have regulated indoor tanning operations for some years, but the issue made headlines again when a 5-year-old New Jersey girl went to school with a sunburn, and police arrested her mother. The woman, a devotee of tanning salons, was accused of letting her child get too close to a tanning device. A grand jury ultimately chose not to indict "Tan Mom," as she was called by the tabloids, but this spring, New Jersey raised the age at which a minor can use a commercial tanning bed from 14 to 17. Although exposure to ultraviolet light is fairly consistent across age groups, research indicates teens are more prone to risky behaviors and that blistering sunburns and overexposure during childhood greatly increase the chance of developing skin cancer--specifically melanoma, the deadliest form--later in life.

Thirty-three states place some form of age restrictions on ultraviolet tanning devices. California and Vermont ban their use by anyone under 18. Other state laws combine various restrictions. For example, Delaware, New Hampshire and North Dakota ban the use of indoor tanning by anyone under 14 unless medically necessary, and require parental accompaniment for those 14 to 18. At least 23 states require operators to limit exposure time to manufacturers' recommendations and/or provide eye protection. Along with requiring parental permission for minors, Arizona also requires public schools to educate students about the risks of developing skin cancer.

Opinions on government tanning restrictions are far from unanimous. In vetoing a measure this April to restrict the use of commercial tanning devices by youths under 18, Maine Governor Paul LePage described it as "government run amok." He said the measure "tells parents that Augusta knows better than they do when it comes to their children."

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