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FDA Seeks Tougher Rules for Tanning Beds

By KFBB News Team

Story Created: Jan 19, 2010 at 5:57 PM MST

Story Updated: Jan 19, 2010 at 6:28 PM MST

Regulation of tanning beds by the US Food and Drug Administration is nothing new, but with more and more young people choosing to bake in the beds - and constant reports linking their use to cancer - the FDA is set to meet this March to discuss tightening restrictions.

Says Dr. Emilia Ploplys, a plastic surgeon at the Great Falls Clinic, “a nice, healthy glow is always something that people think looks good.”

And for many, hopping into a tanning bed is the way to do it. But is it the best way?

Last summer, the World Health Organization took tanning beds off the list of "probable" carcinogens, and categorized them as definitive cancer causers.

Now, the FDA is considering following their lead.

“Tanning bed exposure increases the amount of UV radiation, which is a proven carcinogen. With people exposed to a tanning bed, they have about a 75% increased chance of melanoma,” reveals Dr. Ploplys.

Some argue there are actually positive health benefits to tanning bed use

“Tanning beds do help the body produce natural vitamin D, which has been shown to help osteoporosis, prostate, colon cancer – different things of that nature,” says Greg Hall, manager at Gold’s Gym in Great Falls, which provides tanning beds.

Right now, tanning beds do contain warning labels - and users are required to use protective eye wear. But the US Food and Drug Administration isn't so sure that's enough to get the message across.

The harmful effects of UV overexposure is something Dr. Ploplys regularly sees in her practice

“About 50% of my practice in Great Falls is actually removal of skin cancers and reconstruction of people’s faces after skin cancer is removed,” Dr. Ploplys tells NewsChannel 5.

What specific changes the F-D-A decides to make remain to be seen, but whatever the case, both sides agree on one thing..

“Care, moderation and responsibility – like anything – are paramount to the user of the tanning bed,” says Hall.
Separate from these tighter restrictions is a proposed federal tax on tanning bed users, which is currently pending legislation.

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traciec8@hotmail.com said on Wednesday, Jan 20 at 7:54 AM

Dr Ploplys benefits greatly in that practice by the press being generated by tanning beds. Sounds like a money motivated conversation....a turf war if you will. I feel sorry for the business owners who are being slammed by this ridiculous press. If you have on a white coat, you don't need to back up your statements, people just accept them as fact. Wouldn't it be nice if everyone was afforded that luxury.

LAME said on Tuesday, Jan 19 at 9:39 PM

THIS IS STUPID ! We all know the risks about tanning!

DW said on Tuesday, Jan 19 at 9:14 PM

No. You get a real tan from the beds. the "day glo" look is from self-tanning lotion, which is nothing more than a skin dye.

Ummmm really? said on Tuesday, Jan 19 at 7:53 PM

Did you know that you get enough vitamin D by being outside for 5 minutes? The tanning beds give as much as 5,000 x the amount of UVA and UVB (skin damaging rays) in five minutes compared to natural solar energy. PS, everyone can tell when someone has used a tanning bed. It turns you a shade of dayglo orange. Not brown.

Anonymous said on Tuesday, Jan 19 at 7:44 PM

Could this have anything to do with Congress wanting to tax tanning services 10% to pay for health care?

Gill Bates said on Tuesday, Jan 19 at 7:23 PM

This is pure BS. Don;t they dp this about every 4 years or so? People get skin cancer from the sun to - are we going to regulate that? There are beneficial aspects to tanning - such as SAD treatment and vitamin D production. What a joke.

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