Compliance with indoor tanning bans for minors among businesses in the USA

Abstract

Indoor tanning is a known risk factor for skin cancer and is especially dangerous for adolescents. Some states have passed indoor tanning bans for minors, but business compliance with the bans is not well understood. Thus far, studies have assessed ban compliance in one or two states at a time. This study aimed to assess compliance with indoor tanning bans for minors and knowledge of dangers and benefits of tanning among indoor tanning businesses. Female research assistants posing as minors telephoned a convenience sample of 412 businesses in 14 states with tanning bans for minors under age 17 or 18. We evaluated differences in compliance by census region and years since ban was implemented and differences in reported dangers and benefits by compliance. Most (80.1%) businesses told the "minor" caller she could not use the tanning facilities. Businesses in the south and in states with more recent bans were less compliant. Among those (n = 368) that completed the full interview, 52.2% identified burning and 20.1% mentioned skin cancer as potential dangers. However, 21.7% said dangers were no worse than the sun and 10.3% denied any dangers. Stated benefits included vitamin D (27.7%), social/cosmetic (27.2%), and treats skin diseases (26.4%), with only 4.9% reporting no benefits. While most businesses followed the indoor tanning ban when a minor called, one-fifth did not. Many stated inaccurate health claims. Additional enforcement or education might increase compliance with indoor tanning bans and action is needed to prevent businesses from stating false health information.

State Indoor Tanning Laws and Prevalence of Indoor Tanning Among US High School Students, 2009–2015

“…23 Similarly, an analysis of data collected in 2015 from a random sample of 412 businesses in 14 states with age restriction laws indicated that 3 of 4 businesses were in compliance with the age restriction when a minor went to tan. 24…”

Evaluation of Indoor Tanning Facilities in American Fitness Centers

“…15 Another American study observed a more dramatic noncompliance rate for minimum age of 25%. 17 However, this publication did not study IT exclusively in fitness clubs nor did it evaluate all 50 states. Furthermore, Culley et al visited 54 tanning businesses and reported that most violations were from age requirements.…”

MELAINOMANIA: Psychopathological mechanisms, physical and psychological diagnostic endpoints and psychotherapeutic model, based on a clinical study over 160 cases

“…Control showed I-II aged in Glugaustage and no remarkable aging signs in ultrasound test. The findings US are superimposed to the ones described in the last studies [6][7][8]13] (Table 1).…”

“…The melainomania is a syndrome because it includes: a) an obsessive-compulsive disorder into dependence to have a tanned skin in a complete and constant way b) skin damages from excessive sun exposure (sun or UV lamps). It is common in 20% of the population [4][5][6][7][8].…”