RFK hands major win to the indoor tanning industry, to dermatologists' dismay
Los Angeles Times • • health
Key Points:
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr., future Health and Human Services Secretary, withdrew a proposed FDA rule that would have banned minors from using indoor tanning lamps, citing scientific concerns and potential unintended consequences without further explanation.
- The withdrawn rule aimed to protect minors from the high risk of melanoma associated with indoor tanning, as tanning beds emit ultraviolet radiation far exceeding natural sunlight levels, increasing lifetime melanoma risk nearly threefold.
- Many dermatologists criticize the withdrawal, emphasizing that minors are particularly vulnerable to skin cancer from tanning beds and that state regulations on indoor tanning vary widely and are often insufficient.
- The World Health Organization classifies UV-emitting tanning beds as a Group 1 carcinogen, and while several states have banned minors from tanning salons, the U.S. remains more permissive compared to countries like Australia and Brazil, which have full bans.
- Despite the setback, skin cancer advocates vow to continue pushing for a federal ban on tanning beds, highlighting the growing melanoma rates and the need for stronger protections for youth.
