Addressing Concerns as FDA Pulls Proposed Tanning Bed Ban for Minors

The FDA has withdrawn its much-discussed proposal to restrict minors from accessing tanning beds. The rule, which would have banned those aged under 18 years, was officially pulled on March 16, 2026, sparking widespread conversation among dermatologists.¹

The Ban

First introduced in 2015, the ban was designed to help curb the skin cancer risks tied to indoor tanning, particularly among younger users. The decision to withdraw it comes despite significant research linking tanning beds to an increased risk of melanoma. Dermatologists say it could also send a confusing message about the risks and safety of UV exposure to young Americans and their parents. “Dermatologists have for a long time known the harmful risk of UV-A/UV-B radiation on the skin,” said Kavita Mariwalla, MD, a dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Mariwalla Dermatology in New York, New York. “We know that it is a direct cause of melanoma and skin cancers.”

Dermatologists and the FDA alike have long been aware of the concerns surrounding tanning beds, even before the 2015 proposed ban. “In 2010, the FDA Advisory Panel recommended banning tanning bed use for people under the age of 18,” Mariwalla said. “The goal was to classify tanning beds and sun lamps as [devices that were] high risk and required stricter controls or prohibition for minors. The problem was that this was not really enforced.”

Then, in 2014, more changes followed. “The FDA reclassified tanning beds from a class I to a class II carcinogen but required a black box warning,” she said. “However, there was still no federal prohibition. Thus, it was left to the states to regulate who was using a tanning bed.” Finally, in 2015, the FDA proposed a formal rule. In addition to a nationwide ban on tanning bed use for those under 18, it would have also “required adults to sign risk acknowledgment forms every 6 months,” Mariwalla said. “In early 2024, the rule was in its final stage, but just recently the FDA formally withdrew the proposed rule.”

What Happens Now

As a result of this rollback, enforcement will be left to each state. “We are back to a patchwork of rules,” Mariwalla said. “Some states have banned the use of tanning beds for people under 18, others require parental permission, and others have weaker restrictions.” She noted that this signals that the use of tanning beds is not a priority at the federal level, which, as a dermatologist, she calls a “shame.”

Even though this is not a priority for the FDA, the science behind tanning has not changed. “As dermatologists, we’ve spent decades educating patients that there is no safe tan,” said Janine Hopkins, MD, a dermatologist at Hopkins Dermatology in Southlake, Texas. “The science is unequivocal: UV exposure from tanning beds causes DNA damage and significantly increases melanoma risk, especially when exposure begins at a young age.”

Hopkins noted that it’s not just a policy decision but also a public health setback. “Indoor tanning is a known carcinogen, and starting before age 18 can increase melanoma risk by nearly 50%,” she said. “This is one of the few cancer risks in medicine that is entirely preventable. Allowing minors access to tanning beds sends the wrong message at the worst possible time—before lifelong habits are formed.”

The ruling also comes amid continued interest in tanning among younger demographics. “I see young people continuing to tan,” Mariwalla said. “They do it before prom, they do it to ‘not get a burn’ before going on vacation, and they do it because their friends are doing it.” Hopkins also noted that, in the short term, “we may see increased use among teens, particularly in states without strict regulations.”

Potential Effects

Walking away from this proposed ban doesn’t just affect teens and children in the short term, but also in the long term. “This raises serious concerns about increased rates of melanoma and other skin cancers, along with accelerated photoaging and cumulative UV damage,” Hopkins said. Mariwalla is already seeing skin cancer in younger patients, not just older ones. “I do see skin cancer in younger and younger patients,” she said. “It truly is reaching epidemic proportions. And this is not just for melanomas but also basal cell carcinoma.”

Here’s the bottom line for parents and minors to know about tanning beds: “Tanning beds are not a safe alternative to sun exposure—they emit concentrated ultraviolet radiation that directly damages DNA in skin cells,” Hopkins said. “Early exposure significantly compounds lifetime risk.”

Reference

1. General and plastic surgery devices: restricted sale, distribution, and use of sunlamp products; withdrawal of proposed rule. Fed Register. 2026:91(50):12524. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-03-16/pdf/2026-05103.pdf

[This article was originally published by our sister brand, NewBeauty]