Freshman Kayla Shoenfeld went tanning almost everyday for a year during high school and reported no problems except sensitive eyebrows.
This type of excessive tanning among teenagers is what Bob Jones, Delaware County health department adminstrator, is trying to avoid.
He is working with the health department attorney to create an ordinance addressing three things. It will reinforce state regulations that teenagers age 16 and under be accompanied by a parent when they go to a tanning salon and teenagers age 18 and under have written parental consent when they go tanning. It also will expand the rights of the health department, enabling them to inspect tanning businesses regularly.
Tanning salons are examined by the State Board of Cosmetology Examiners, but the staff is small.
Tanning businesses and various agencies have mixed feelings about the ordinance Jones is proposing.
John Overstock, president of Indoor Tanning Association, believes it's unnecessary to create an ordinance to regulate tanning salons. He said Indiana is already heavily regulated, and it's unnecessary to have a county ordinance.
"There are benefits to tanning indoors," he said. "You get the same amount of exposure, but the environment is more predictable. You're less likely to have overexposure."
ITA's mission is to protect the freedom of individuals to acquire a suntan.
Becky Reece, owner of Ultra Image Suntanning, said she originally supported the ordinance, but she thinks its reasoning is based on an unbalanced study.
She said the reason for having an ordinance is based on a report from the September issue of Archives of Dermatology. It's unbalanced because it only tested teenagers with fair skin who shouldn't have be tanning in the first place, she said. It also didn't take into consideration the effects sun exposure and cosmetics have on the skin.
She said people tend to overlook the benefits of tanning.
"UV rays are the best source of vitamin D, which the body needs to produce calcium," she said. "We have clients with soriasis who cannot get out into the sunlight. They come to us upon the recommendation of their doctors."
Andy Goth, owner of Sunsations Tanning, supports the ordinance.
"We've been open eight months and only two of our customers were underage," he said. "They came in with their parents. We've never had a problem."
Becky Butts, coordinator of community education at the Cancer Center at Ball Memorial Hospital, said even though the ordinance isn't available yet, she would support anything that informs people about the dangers of tanning.
"We've seen an increase for melanoma across the board, and people in their 30s and 40s are starting to get it," she said. "Skin cancer builds over time. The earlier you start and the more frequently you tan, the more exposed you are to [the possibility of getting skin cancer]."
Freshman Blaine Helms believes excessive regulation is unnecessary.
"There's way too many laws," he said. "Parents need to take care of their kids. I never went tanning that much; I didn't abuse it."
Junior Kelsey Guenther said she thinks having an ordinance is a good idea, but it might be abused.
"I think especially on college campuses, there'll be some leeway," she said. "There'll be a lot of parents who don't really care."
Shoenfeld said teenagers are willing to tan despite the threat of cancer.
"Anything can cause cancer, and everything's a risk."
The issue- The Delaware County health department administrator is writing an ordinance which would enforce state regulations because he is concerned with the health of teenagers who use tanning beds.
It will reemphasize two regulations: students age 16 and under must be accompanied by a parent when they go tanning, and students age 18 and under must have written consent by a parent to go tanning.
For- The owner of Sunsations supports the ordinance because he thinks all tanning salons should uphold the industry standards.
Against- International Tanning Association believes an ordinance is unnecessary because Indiana tanning salons are licensed and regulated by the State Board of Cosmetology.
On the fence- The owner of Ultra Image Suntanning said she originally supported it. However, it appears the health department is basing their reasoning for an ordinance on an unbalanced study.
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