Ontario's doctors are calling on the province to follow Nova Scotia's lead and move to protect young people from the dangers of tanning beds. In Nova Scotia, the government recently announced a ban on the use of tanning beds for those under 19.
In April, the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) moved to dispel the common misconception that salon tanning beds are safer than the sun and called for restrictions on the use of artificial tanning equipment, so that tanning beds cannot be used by those under 18 years of age.
"We are concerned that the winter weather and lack of sun may make tanning beds more tempting," said Dr. Mark MacLeod, President of the OMA. "We're concerned that Ontarians still don't understand that UV rays from tanning beds damage the skin and increase your chances of getting skin cancer, which can be deadly."
In July 2009, the International Agency for Research on Cancer reclassified tanning equipment to the highest cancer risk category.
Nova Scotia has just announced a ban on the use of tanning beds for people under 18 and New South Wales, Australia, introduced a ban that includes those in their twenties. In November 2009, Brazil banned the use of tanning beds altogether. Belgium, Germany, Scotland, Spain, Portugal, New Brunswick, California, and Texas all have bans in place against the use of tanning beds by people under 18. France also bans the use of tanning beds for people under 18, and stipulates that any claims about the health benefits of tanning beds are forbidden.
"We hope that our adult patients will get the message that tanning beds are dangerous," said Dr. Samir Gupta, Chair of the OMA's Dermatology Section. "But like the legislators in Nova Scotia, we believe that tanning bed use should be restricted when it comes to those under 18 years of age. The overall message is that indoor tanning is definitely out!"
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