Commercial Tanning Beds

Aside from the ambitious biology student, the typical teenager probably doesn't give a lot of thought to the American Medical Association. But with the far-reaching influence it has on their lives, you'd think they might start paying attention.

• First, they made smoking in the boys' room decidedly uncool. (Drag!)
• In May of 2006, they struck a deal with major soda companies to pull pop from school grounds. (That is so not sweet.)
• Now the AMA is recommending that commercial tanning beds be restricted. (Huh?)

The dark side of tanning beds
That's right. Commercial tanning beds are among the AMA's front page offenders to youth health. Trips to the tanning salon no longer top the teenage agenda only around prom time. An increasing number of high school teens, both male and female, are lining up to lie down in tanning beds. This behavior at any age concerns dermatologists, but early, heavy use of commercial tanning beds warrants our attention for more reasons than melanoma. Here's why:

• Endorphins. Ultraviolet light, the type of light generated by commercial tanning beds, produces these feel-good hormones. Teens who regularly enjoy this flood of good feelings are likely to come back for more, and the younger they are, the more prone they are to develop addictions. In fact, physicians sometimes prescribe drugs, similar to those given to meth addicts, to people who suffer from withdrawal symptoms upon quitting tanning.
  
• Self-esteem. Teenagers are more susceptible to low self-esteem and distorted body image than any other age group. If a rich, dark tan can provide a psychological boost, tanning beds become a quick fix for a deeper problem.
  
• Peer pressure. The Achilles heel of adolescents. When friends seek out commercial tanning beds, friends usually follow suit. This puts the fair-skinned and freckled in a particularly precarious situation, as even limited exposure can cause lasting damage.

Laying down the law
Many states, including California, North Carolina, and Florida, have already passed legislation restricting teen access to commercial tanning beds, and legislation has been proposed in many more. California, for example, bans anyone under the age of 14 from using commercial tanning beds. Teens under 18 need to arm themselves with parental consent forms to soldier past the checkpoints at commercial tanning bed salons.

A healthy tan
Of course, not all the news about tanning beds is bad. Heliotherapy, the limited use of tanning and tanning beds, causes the brain to produce the hormone melatonin, which has shown promise in treating psoriasis, chronic pain, and insomnia. Melatonin has also demonstrated success in fighting cancer.

The parent's dilemma
When your teen comes calling for a signature, don't be surprised if they attempt to smuggle a tanning form in with their school permission slips. Talk with them about their reasons for wanting to tan, and decide if they're good enough. After all, tanning is a health issue, both physical and mental.