England bans indoor tanning for those under 18.

Rosie109

http://www.skincancer.org/britain-bans-indoor-tanning-for-those-under-18.html

what say yee E? Is this something you would like to see in your country (if your country is not England)?

aggiebug

I think it is perfectly reasonable.  Its just as bad a tobacco and you can't get that until you are 18. 

But I don't think it is going to change much.  Girls will just go back to laying outside and getting melanoma from the sun instead of a box. 

missy68

This is my off the cuff thought - I haven't thought it through - but, I think it isn't a bad idea at all.

Beachy730

I would love for that to be a law.  Kids rarely understand that their actions have long term effects on their health, and tanning is without a doubt one of them.  I used to go tanning a lot in high school and first few years of college.  Then I had a friend diagnosed with melanoma, and her doctor said that it was almost a guarantee if was from her years of tanning beds, and in 15 years the diagnoses will skyrocket from all the kids who tan.  That was enough to scare the crap out of me, and I haven't gone tanning since.  

jemmini6

I think it would be a good idea.  Tanning is something that I don't think teens fully comprehend the dangers of and I don't think they should have free range over killing themselves quite yet.  I view it as similar to the age restriction on smoking, only they can still tan outside if they wanted to, so it's still less restrictive.

Plus when I think of indoor tanning, I think of the trashy Jersey Shore types and I don't understand why kids (or anyone for that matter) would want to look like that.  Gross.

WildRumpus

I'm all for it. I tanned as a teenager, and I now have sun/tanning bed damage on my chest and shoulders. SO not worth it for extra freckles

emilyinchile

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_england-bans-indoor-tanning-those-under-18?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:d30e2250-7517-49db-87ab-5e8b45155eb1Post:ecaea598-7dda-4d9e-849e-31ff789c1079">Re: England bans indoor tanning for those under 18.</a>:
[QUOTE]I think it is perfectly reasonable.  Its just as bad a tobacco and you can't get that until you are 18.  But I don't think it is going to change much.  <strong>Girls will just go back to laying outside and getting melanoma from the sun instead of a box. </strong>
Posted by aggiebug[/QUOTE]

There is not much sun in England :)

I know what you mean though, just in this particular case that line made me laugh.

mandysmear

WOO!  That's great.  I think indoor tanning is stupid. 

Moneypenny424

I think this is awesome.  Teens never think about what can happen to them in the future.  Even if they don't do this, they should be required to show pictures of women in their 30s with serious sun skin damage.  They should say, "Kids, do you want to look like an old leather saddle?  Then hop in."

I've never understood tanning beds...but then again, I'm always tan .

Snippylynn

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_england-bans-indoor-tanning-those-under-18?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:d30e2250-7517-49db-87ab-5e8b45155eb1Post:161f9a66-61e5-4dd9-b1ee-89e473eeb8c1">Re: England bans indoor tanning for those under 18.</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: England bans indoor tanning for those under 18. : There is not much sun in England :) I know what you mean though, just in this particular case that line made me laugh.
Posted by emilyinchile[/QUOTE]

haha... that's what I thought too!  But the weather is pretty similar here, and Swedes take any excuse to sit outside.  Today, it was about 55, and people were laying out in the grass, sunning themselves.

baystateapple

I've never tanned indoors.  My family has a history of cancerous moles (my mother had one removed from her arm and a bunch from her back a few months ago) and I'm too worried about it.  I think banning it is a great idea.  Sure, kids will just go outside to tan, but at least we're not giving them the option of paying for skin cancer.

sarah0725

Good.

sarabellam

Yes, tanning beds are bad for you. But where is the parental responsibility here? Do I think they should be banned for under 18 year-olds here? Not necessarily. If you (or your parent) are so vain as to deliberately expose your skin to a process known to cause cancer, then maybe this willl be Darwin's way of thinning the herd when you die of skin cancer.

Beachy730

Even if people did just go back to laying outside, it's safer.  Most people I know only tan during the winter, and lay outside anyways in the summer.  Or if you live here you tan year round since there is no sun.  Or at least seems that way.  So I don't think it would really impact how much they tanned outdoors.

If they did make it illegal they would have to be much more strict at the tanning places.  When I was in HS I would always buy a month of unlimited tanning, and I had a friend who would pay me to go on the days I didn't go because her parents wouldn't let her sign up.  So she would just give them my customer ID and they never questioned it.  Salons would need to ask for photo ID from everyone when they tanned.   

annakb8

I think this law is especially appropriate in the UK because of their healthcare system. If NHS is going to be responsible for all the future cancer screenings and treatments I think their government has an even better reason to regulate tanning.

waltzingmatilda13

It's a great idea. If they already protect kids from engaging in dangerous activities (i.e. smoking and drinking) until they can make an informed decision at a wiser age, tanning should absolutely be on this list. I really hope the US follows suit.

aggiebug

haha true emily! I was just thinking about if the law was put in place here.  Where laying out started a month and a half ago and goes through Oct.

Snippylynn

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_england-bans-indoor-tanning-those-under-18?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:d30e2250-7517-49db-87ab-5e8b45155eb1Post:fa63258a-eba8-45db-b26f-870f9e03dd50">Re: England bans indoor tanning for those under 18.</a>:
[QUOTE]I think this law is especially appropriate in the UK because of their healthcare system. If NHS is going to be responsible for all the future cancer screenings and treatments I think their government has an even better reason to regulate tanning.
Posted by annakb8[/QUOTE]

This is exactly the reason these laws can and do get passed in Europe. All of a sudden, people start paying attention/caring about what other people are doing with their health.

opalsky007

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_england-bans-indoor-tanning-those-under-18?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:d30e2250-7517-49db-87ab-5e8b45155eb1Post:a0b6478e-86b2-4dae-8da2-99bc2adc497e">Re: England bans indoor tanning for those under 18.</a>:
[QUOTE]I think this is awesome.  Teens never think about what can happen to them in the future.  Even if they don't do this, they should be required to show pictures of women in their 30s with serious sun skin damage.  They should say, "Kids, do you want to look like an old leather saddle?  Then hop in." I've never understood tanning beds...but then again, I'm always tan :).
Posted by Moneypenny424[/QUOTE]

<div>I like this.</div><div>
</div><div>I remember to this day two posters that were in my high school health classroom: one had a picture of a smoker's lung. Another had a woman smoking, covered in prosthetics and makeup, with the caption, "If what happened to your inside happened to your outside, you wouldn't smoke". Grossed me right the hell out.</div><div>
</div><div>Random thought: I read a story in Glamour a while back that said that the majority of women who tan won't change their tanning habits if you tell them they'll get cancer. It just doesn't strike a chord with them. If you tell them they'll get wrinkles, they tend to quit. Sad.</div>

aggiebug

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_england-bans-indoor-tanning-those-under-18?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:d30e2250-7517-49db-87ab-5e8b45155eb1Post:ce997154-0680-41d5-a256-1c4124c41e86">Re: England bans indoor tanning for those under 18.</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: England bans indoor tanning for those under 18. : I like this. I remember to this day two posters that were in my high school health classroom: one had a picture of a smoker's lung. Another had a woman smoking, covered in prosthetics and makeup, with the caption, "If what happened to your inside happened to your outside, you wouldn't smoke". Grossed me right the hell out. Random thought: <strong>I read a story in Glamour a while back that said that the majority of women who tan won't change their tanning habits if you tell them they'll get cancer. It just doesn't strike a chord with them. If you tell them they'll get wrinkles, they tend to quit. Sad.</strong>
Posted by opalsky007[/QUOTE]

that is sad. and yet it rings true with the vanity of our nation.

TatiMarie

 I posted something a few months ago on the Fashion &Beauty board on The Nest about why people still tan.  It was somewhat intereresting discussiong, but there were a lot of reponses "Why do you care? It's my body!"

While that's true, it just baffles me there are posters who are all, "Please recommend your favorite moisturizer and wrinkle creme! My skin is dry!!!!!" and then it turns out they are tanning. 

As for the cancer thing, some of the posters said, "Everything causes cancer!" ::eyeroll::

xyrius

I've only tanned a handful of times in my life, but I found the effect very relaxing and enjoyable, of course that was my own personal experience.  I think all things should be used in moderation.  I'm also the type not to stretch out on a public beach (or my backyard) in a bikini - so this was the only way I could get a tan for the destination wedding I was a bridesmaid in.

That said, I do agree with the age ban - but I don't think it will have that much effect.  Just like how there's age of majority rules for smoking/drinking, and teens find ways to do it anyway. 

barbie92

I think it is really a great idea!

adunn09

I think it's a great idea.  I was lucky enough to have a mother who was very strict about those sorts of things.  I have extremely fair skin and burn very easily.  My mom made sure that, as long as I lived in her house, I would never go to the tanning bed and raise my (already high) risk for skin cancer.

mkrupar

I certainly don't think it's a bad idea.

I had a friend in college who, stupidly, went into one of those super high voltage tanning beds (I've never tanned, so I have no idea the difference in beds), and ended up with sun poisoning because she didn't listen to the person telling her how long she should be in there. It was awful and she ended up in the ER. That was a college aged person, granted it was freshman year so we were still 18, Even at 18 people can be stupid about things. But at that point they're (presumably) adults and can take responsibility for their actions.

I've seen pictures of some of the girls I went to high school with who tanned regularly and they all look much older than they should because of it.

waltzingmatilda13

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_england-bans-indoor-tanning-those-under-18?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:d30e2250-7517-49db-87ab-5e8b45155eb1Post:bb3d35d0-d89b-4242-81cd-52d4e7a713fd">Re: England bans indoor tanning for those under 18.</a>:
[QUOTE]I certainly don't think it's a bad idea. I had a friend in college who, stupidly, went into one of those super high voltage tanning beds (I've never tanned, so I have no idea the difference in beds), and ended up with sun poisoning<strong> because she didn't listen to the person telling her how long she should be in there</strong>. It was awful and she ended up in the ER. That was a college aged person, granted it was freshman year so we were still 18, Even at 18 people can be stupid about things. But at that point they're (presumably) adults and can take responsibility for their actions. I've seen pictures of some of the girls I went to high school with who tanned regularly and they all look much older than they should because of it.
Posted by mkrupar[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>That sounds like stupidity on the part of the salon employee. I admit that I have tanned before (although I would never do it again, it's just not that important) and you didn't set the timer yourself on the bed when I was there. It was set behind the counter and all you did was hit the start button. It automatically turned off when the time was up.
</div>

larzhope

I think this is a great idea - I do agree that there will be some poeople who will still do it - but hopefully it will stop some people.

My mom still tans and it drives me crazy!  I also had friends in high school who spent their entire summer laying outside every day that it was sunny (this was in Michigan, so a lot more sun than here in Seattle).  We are only mid-20's, but I'll be curious to see how it makes a difference as we get older.

mica178

I hate all tanning salons.  I've seen advanced melanoma before, it's uglier than advanced lung cancer (and I hate American tobacco with a passion).  Teenagers are idiots, they think they're invincible.  I don't mind that the UK is trying to regulate tanning.  I think that we should tax tanning beds in the US too.  If we're going to be paying for these people's cancer treatment in the future, we might as well collect from them as they do these harmful things to their bodies.


\rant

sewardkr

I think that this is great!! I am very fair skinned... and for a lot of years I went to a tanning bed because I felt pressure from people to be tan. I have also had numerous cancerous moles removed and at 22 I don't feel that tanning makes getting cancer worth it! I wish that more people would realize this!!

NOLAbridealmost

Sounds like another victory for Big Brother. 

wyney

I think it makes sense in a country with national health care.

But in the US, it's much much more complicated.  It can easily be seen as an attack on freedom, even though we do commonly restrict the freedom of certain groups, like teenagers. 

If there was a way to monitor it, I would just say that anyone who uses unprescribed* tanning beds should waive their coverage of skin cancers linked to UV tanning bed use..  Would never happen, though.  But that's kind of how I feel about junk food, cigarettes,

*UV exposure is natural, and despite it's dangers, has health benefits.  People with skin issues, mood disorders, and other conditions benefit from sun exposure or...when it's unavailable....tanning beds. 

I'm really white, and I grew up on the beach.  I will likely get skin cancer at some point, but if I survive it, or if I develop it late in life.... my idyllic childhood playing outside might just be worth it.  I don't think I could say the same for afternoons at a tanning salon.  Most people get all the sun they need for vitamin D production and circadian regulation without tanning beds, so long as they go outside year round

Personally I get really irked by the whole tanning concept.  I know I look slimmer and more even toned with one, but I'm growing more and more okay with my white skin.  I still struggle with it, and am ashamed to say I haven't learned to fully love the skin I'm in.  But I've made major strides in accepting being white and fair, and even have (for the most part) embraced it.  I don't like tanning beds and self tanner in general because to me the represent "you're not pretty enough the way you are, buy our product!"