In the United States, the tanning booth industry is doing everything to attract young people, despite the risks of skin cancer.
Unlike tobacco, tanning booths are not subject to any price and advertising controls, according to a new study. However, doing UV light causes skin cancer (or “melanoma”), just like cigarettes.
Broken prices
Researchers from the Colorado School of Public Health denounce the fact that the industry of UV cabins deliberately aims to attract young people, via discounted prices, free services or offers of complementary subscription to sports halls. Our study demonstrates that “many companies offer their service at a low cost, making it easier for teens and young adults to access,” says lead author Nancy Asdigian. “Young people can’t get a tan when they can’t afford it. The industry is capitalizing on this to promote this risky behavior,” she says, saying the rate of tanning booth usage is still far too high.
Her team members posed as clients and contacted 94 beauty salons in Akron, Denver, Austin, Boston, Portland and Pittsburgh. 35% of those who provided UV cabins in addition to other services (hairdressing, manicure) gave access to them free of charge. Almost all tanning salons contacted offered time-limited price reductions. “They offer packages that encourage more frequent tanning. The more you use them, the cheaper the UV cabins are,” summarizes Nancy Asdigian.
“End the exposure of the population to artificial UV rays”
In France, the National Health Security Agency (ANSES) published a notice last October calling for tanning booths to be closed for “proven” cancer risk, especially among young people.”People who used tanning booths at least once before the age of 35 increased by 59% the risk of developing cutaneous melanoma”, warns the institute.
Experts estimate that 43% of melanomas in young people can be attributed to the use of tanning booths before the age of thirty, and recommend “consequently that the public authorities take all measures likely to put an end to the exposure of the population to artificial UV rays emitted by tanning booths for aesthetic purposes”.
In January 2016, a new law was enacted to toughen the already existing rules. Claiming that exposure to artificial UV light is good for health is prohibited and punishable by a fine of 100,000 euros. The companies that market these cabins also have a duty to inform and the obligation to display the health risks associated with artificial UV rays.
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