EDITORIAL: Teenage tanning (The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University)

[Editor-in-Chief]

EDITORIAL: Teenage tanning

As beach season approaches, many people will begin visiting tanning booths so they won't look too pasty in their bathing suits this summer.

But some Bay State teenagers won't be able to artificially bronze their skin if a recent Massachusetts proposal becomes a law. The bill prohibits anyone under 16 from going to a tanning booth and would require all 16- and 17-year-olds to get parental consent before lying in a tanning bed.

Many teenagers feel the need to keep pace with their classmates when it comes to looks, fashion and other fads. In recent years, tanning has been an increasingly acceptable trend. Because it is so popular, many teenagers often abuse tanning booths, blinding themselves to the dangers and seeing it as a means to out-do their friends.

But natural tans are potentially harmful. Because of sun exposure, 40 to 50 percent of Americans who live to age 65 will develop non-melanoma skin cancer at least once in their life, according to the National Cancer Institute. And the ultraviolet radiation someone receives from tanning in a booth is twice as potent as radiation received from tanning on the beach, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

The motivation behind the proposal is valid. Because cancer is a deadly disease, the government does what it can to keep kids safe from it. All states prohibit that sale of tobacco to minors for this exact reason.

Like cigarette laws, this proposal is attempting to stop kids from developing a risky habit. If teenagers are prevented from attending tanning salons, they will hopefully be less likely to lie in bronzing beds as adults.

And unlike the limitations on cigarettes, the tanning ban will actually prevent most kids from artificially altering their complexions. Adults can buy cigarettes for minors, but it is impossible for minors to ask older friends to get a tan for them.

Of course, there are young people who tan appropriately. As for most risky behaviors, moderation is the key. For this reason, the ban seems patronizing because it assumes kids are going to take advantage of the salons.

There shouldn't be a set age when it becomes legal to go tanning. Instead, minors should be permitted into the booths as long as they have parental permission. And parents will be involved with most minors' decision to tan, anyway. It is an expensive endeavor that many 14-year-olds can't afford without a little help from mom and dad.

However, though minors shouldn't be forbidden from tanning, parents should not encourage their kids to visit salons. It is still a choice that will harm kids who aren't properly warned about the risks. But ultimately, it is up to parents, not the government to keep kids safe.