New legislation to protect teens from artificial tanning

— prohibited from providing UV artificial tanning services to minors (those under the age of 18)
— prohibited from advertising UV artificial tanning services to minors
— required to post specific signage at every public entrance, point of sale, and in each room where a UV tanning device is present, and
— prohibited from providing unsupervised artificial tanning equipment in public places.

Alberta Health information, shows that a 2012 study found over 30% of Alberta 17 year-old girls have used indoor tanning – particularly alarming because younger skin is more susceptible to UV damage.

Also, using UV tanning equipment before the age 35 increases the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, by nearly 60 per cent. Skin cancer accounts for more than one-third of all new cancer cases in Alberta, and UV radiation exposure accounts for about 82 per cent of melanoma.

According to government statistics, melanoma rates have increased in Alberta. In 2014, there were 665 new cases of melanoma and 64 deaths due to the disease. That’s an increase from the 599 new cases of melanoma and 72 deaths reported in 2012.

by Dori Modney (@Dori_Modney on Twitter)

New legislation to protect teens from artificial tanning

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