Government Takes Closer Look at Skin Cancer Danger

01/25/2010

Skin cancer is a dangerous disease that can result in premature death and thousands of dollars in health insurance costs, while striking its victims at any age.

As a result, the federal government has cracked down on some recent advertising tactics for indoor tanning salons that were seen as minimizing the health risks that such places can contribute to.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, it has charged the Indoor Tanning Association with false claims that ranged from saying that indoor tanning is safer than outdoor tanning to claiming it is approved by the government. The industry was also accused of falsely claiming that scientific research had found that "the risks of not getting enough ultraviolet light far outweigh the hypothetical risk of skin cancer."

Last year, the World Health Organization announced that tanning beds are a particularly dangerous source of cancer-causing radiation, while more recently, various media outlets have reported that the Food and Drug Administration is weighing tighter standards for tanning beds.

Even those who do not use indoor tanning services can find themselves with an elevated risk for cancer if they spend a lot of time outdoors and fail to use sunscreen regularly.

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