Harrisburg, PA - Today, Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine encouraged all Pennsylvanians to be aware of the dangers of indoor tanning, which can cause cancer and eye conditions.
“Indoor tanning is dangerous and can lead to numerous health issues that can impact individuals for the rest of their lives,” Dr. Levine said. “This time of year is very popular for people, especially high-school aged students, to go into tanning booths because of events such as prom and graduation. It is important to remember that tanning is illegal for minors 16 and younger, and parents who know their minor is tanning indoors are also breaking the law. Additionally, a 17-year old is only allowed to tan with written permission from a parent or guardian.”
All indoor tanning facilities are required to register with the department to operate. Those facilities that are not registered are operating illegally. All Pennsylvanians should know that tanning at an unregistered facility is against the law.
Even though indoor tanning devices operate on a timer, the exposure to UV rays can vary, depending on your age and type of light bulbs used. It is possible to get a burn from indoor tanning. A tan is the body’s method of responding to the effect of UV rays and is a form of injury. Having a base tan does not protect you from future damage to your skin, or from being sunburned.
Exposure to ultraviolet radiation can cause numerous health effects such as cataracts and eye cancer. Indoor tanning can also cause skin cancer. Types of skin cancer include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer.
Melanomas often resemble moles, and some develop from moles. This is why it is so important that if you have a mole that seems abnormal or seems to be changing, to have it looked at by a physician. Melanoma that is recognized and treated early is almost always curable. If not detected early, it can spread and be fatal.
Melanoma is one of the most common cancers in Pennsylvania, with nearly 3,700 new cases in 2016. One in 41 Pennsylvanians are at risk of developing melanoma in their lifetime. While nearly 90 percent of people who develop melanoma survive, in 2016, 388 people died from this cancer.
Avoiding tanning and UV tanning beds is one of the best ways to prevent melanoma and other skin cancers. In addition, it is important to prevent sunburns by using sunscreen that contains broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) coverage with an SPF of 30 or higher. Newborns and others at risk of issues from the sun should prevent exposure.
For more information on indoor tanning or skin cancer, visit the Department of Health’s website at www.health.pa.gov or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
MEDIA CONTACT: Nate Wardle, 717-787-1783 or ra-dhpressoffice@pa.gov
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