FDA proposes warnings on tanning beds

The Food and Drug Administration is proposing that indoor tanning beds be labeled with warnings to notify users about the risks of developing skin cancer from the devices.

The FDA’s proposal would not prohibit minors under age 18 from using tanning beds. Instead, it would require a label that includes recommendations warning young people not to use the devices, according to a news release.

“Using indoor tanning beds can damage your skin and increase your risk of developing skin cancer,” FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, M.D., stated. “The FDA’s proposed changes will help address some of the risks associated with sunlamp products and provide consumers with clear and consistent information.”

Those who use tanning beds have a 75 percent greater risk of developing melanoma than those who do not use the devices, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. In recent years, several states and cities have enacted laws restricting minors from using tanning beds.

The proposal, if approved, would reclassify sunlamp devices from low-risk (class 1) to moderate-risk (class 2). The FDA will accept comments about the proposed order for 90 days.