Tighter Regulations on Indoor Tanning

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Indoor tanning has recently become more common among teenagers in America. Indoor tanning releases ultra violent, or UV rays, which causes production of melanin, the pigment that darkens skin to produce a tan. There has also been a recent rise in the prevalence of melanoma or skin cancer in teenagers. The rise in melanoma is thought to correlate with the increased use of indoor tanning beds. According to Ellen Rolfes, a reporter for PBS, “In the United States, indoor tanning is a nearly $5 billion per year industry, providing a backbone for close to 19,000 small businesses across the country. To put this in perspective, there are 5,000 more tanning salons than McDonald’s fast food chains in America”(1). I believe that making indoor tanning laws stricter will help to lower the amount of Americas that develop life-threatening diseases.
While I was in high school I tanned daily, spending hundreds of dollars each month on tanning packages and lotions. When I first signed up for a tanning membership I was required to get my parents consent but instead I signed it myself, this is why indoor tanning regulations should be made stricter. I always knew that tanning was unsafe but I wasn’t completely aware of its dangers until I read a required article in school about melanoma. After reading that article I slowing quit tanning. As a blonde, pale complexioned, Caucasian I am already at a higher risk for melanoma. Indoor tanning increased my risk for skin cancer greatly. According to Liz Szabo, USA Today reporter “People who use a tanning bed before age 35 increase their risk of melanoma by 75%”(1). I was unaware of this increase until after reading that eye-opening article. Teens are more likely to use tanning beds because they are unaware ...

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...ce, indoor tanning can be beneficial for individuals who have large scars; tanning of the skin can help to make scars less noticeable. It can also help dry up oils produced on skin helping clear up acne and other various skin conditions.
Currently there are regulations that for indoor tanning in America but they vary state by state. Indoor tanning can cause skin cancer, cataracts, suppression of immune system, and premature skin aging such as, wrinkles and age spots. Even though, there are some potential benefits of indoor tanning such as; eliminating psoriasis, eczema, acne, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and an increase in vitamin D levels but there are other less risky solutions to these problems. The dangers of UV rays emitted from tanning beds are enormously larger than the positive effects; this is why regulations on indoor tanning should be made stricter.

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