The Food and Drug Administration announced earlier that tanning beds and sun lamps will now be required to carry new warnings, stating they should not be used by anyone under the age of 18. Tampa dermatologist Dr. Seth Forman applauds the decision and says this requirement is long overdue.
“The new regulations could decrease the occurrence of skin cancer linked to ultraviolet radiation,” Forman said. “Research shows that using a tanning bed just once before the age of 35 can increase the risk of developing melanoma by 75 percent.”
According to the Skin Care Foundation, melanoma is the second most common form of cancer for young people between the ages of 15 to 29 years old. Of melanoma cases among 18 to 29 year olds who had tanned indoors, 76 percent were attributable to tanning bed use.
The FDA has regulated tanning machines for more than 30 years, but for the first time, the agency is requiring manufacturers to provide additional warnings about cancer risks in pamphlets, catalogs and websites that promote their products
“Putting restrictions on tanning beds is so important,” Forman said. “Young women in particular are increasing their chances of developing melanoma just so they can have tanner skin.”
The Tampa dermatologist said millions of teenagers use tanning beds every year, with the majority of users being female. Dr. Forman believes this possibly explains why melanoma rates have been rising faster among women ages 15 to 29 than in their male counterparts.
“Many cases of melanoma are diagnosed in people who are middle-aged,” Forman said. “Although it is often diagnosed later in life, the disease can be directly linked to sun exposure at an earlier age. However, more and more women in their twenties are coming in with skin cancer concerns.”
For more on Dr. Seth Forman, Tampa dermatology or Forman Dermatology and Skin Cancer Institute, please visit http://www.FormanDerm.com.
About Dr. Seth Forman: Dr. Forman is a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Tampa, Florida. He was voted the “Best Dermatologist in Carrollwood” in 2011, 2012 and 2013 by the Carrollwood News and Tribune as well as the 2013 “Best Dermatologist in North Tampa” by the Tampa Tribune. In December 2011, he opened his new Tampa dermatology office, Forman Dermatology and Skin Cancer Institute, where he gives psoriasis sufferers access to the latest treatment options, including topical and oral medications, as well as biological and phototherapy. Dr. Forman is one of the few Tampa dermatologists to offer narrowband light therapy, which uses pharmaceutical grade light to suppress psoriasis. He’s also one of the few board-certified dermatologists in the U.S. to use the SRT-100 radiotherapy to treat basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer.
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SOURCE: Forman Dermatology and Skin Cancer Institute
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