Study Finds Increases in Restrictions on Indoor Tanning in Several Countries

Research conducted by Preventive Medicine Residency program alumna Mary Pawlak, MD and colleagues indicates an increase in the number of countries placing restrictions on youth access to indoor tanning. 

New countries restrict youth access to indoor tanning

CHICAGO (July 16, 2012) – Restrictions on indoor tanning, which studies suggest is linked to skin cancer, appear to have increased in several countries since 2003, according to a study published Online First by Archives of Dermatology, a JAMA Network publication.

The number of countries with nationwide indoor tanning legislation restricting young people 18 years or younger increased from two countries (France and Brazil) in 2003 to 11 countries in 2011. The 11 countries were France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Belgium, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Brazil, according to the results.

Mary T. Pawlak, M.D., of the Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, and colleagues conducted a web-based Internet search of access to indoor tanning and compiled the legislation.

“Since 2003, youth access to indoor tanning has become increasingly restricted throughout the world as accumulating evidence demonstrated an association between melanoma and indoor tanning. Additional countries and states are developing indoor tanning restrictions or making their existing legislation more restrictive,” the authors comment.

“Indoor tanning legislation is constantly evolving, and the National Conference of State Legislatures provides an updated web registry of indoor tanning legislation in the United States. We recommend a similar web registry for legislation throughout the world,” the authors conclude.

Access the official news release and commentary through the JAMA Network.

(Arch Dermatol. Published online June 18, 2012. doi:10.1001/archdermatol.2012.2080. Available pre-embargo to the media at http://media.jamanetwork.com.)