The 24 Hour Tanning Law – What You Should Know
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has established regulations for artificial tanning equipment and the industry as a whole.
It has introduced regulations that prohibit a person from tanning under a sunlamp more than once in a 24-hour period.
This regulation was not introduced to be difficult, or just for the sake of it; there are dangers associated with ‘over tanning’ and overexposure to sunlamps or sunbeds.
Indoor tanning equipment offers an easy way for people to get a beautiful tan comfortably and without having to sit in the sun for hours baking away.
Many people also dislike the feeling of spray tans or self-tanning lotions and prefer to achieve a natural, gradual tan.
FDA Guidelines For Tanning Beds
Sunbeds and sunlamps are commonly found in salons throughout the US, and many people prefer to use this method of tanning.
The FDA has recognised the risks of indoor tanning and requires that indoor tanning devices be labelled with a big black-box warning saying that the equipment is not to be used by people under the age of 18.
This is an attempt to protect people under the age of 18 from excessive exposure to UV lights, which can damage their skin.
The cumulative effect of UV radiation throughout a person’s life is significant, so limiting exposure from a young age can reduce the total exposure over a person’s lifetime.
Tanning salons are also required to explain the health risks of indoor tanning to consenting adult clients and have them sign a risk acknowledgement form.
This is all part of an effort to educate people about the dangers of UV radiation and to help prevent its misuse.
Some people are confused about how this guideline works and wonder if they can tan at 9 am today and then tan at 8 am tomorrow.
Although this falls only an hour short of the 24-hour rule, it is certainly not permitted.
The 24-hour rule means 24 hours, and not ‘tanning once a day’. Responsible salon owners will stick to this rule properly, ensuring the safety of their clients.
They usually accomplish this with a simple scheduling program that automatically prohibits someone from setting two appointments within a 24-hour period.
What is UV Radiation
UV radiation (ultraviolet radiation) is one of many forms of radiation, all of which are types of energy.
UV radiation falls somewhere between visible and X-ray radiation on the electromagnetic spectrum.
UV radiation comes in three distinct forms: UVA, UVB, and UVC.
UVA rays are the longest wavelengths of all the UV radiation.
UVA rays make it through the atmosphere and are the rays to which we are most commonly exposed. UVA rays penetrate into the middle layer of your skin.
UVB also make it through the atmosphere but is mostly absorbed by the Earth’s ozone layer. UVB rays reach the outer layer of your skin.
UVC rays are absorbed by the Earth’s ozone layer, so we do not come into contact with them.
Risks of indoor tanning
UV radiation penetrates deeply into the skin and essentially burns it.
There are short and long-term effects of overexposure. Exposure to UV radiation, if not controlled, can damage the skin in the following ways:
Sunburn – Sunburn is also called erythema. It is one of the most common signs of overexposure to UV radiation. The skin turns red and starts to peel after a few days.
It is only the top layer of skin that peels away, but this does not mean the damage hasn’t penetrated further.
The UV rays damage the cells in your epidermis; as a result, your immune System increases blood flow to the affected area, which is what causes sunburn to become red.
The damaged skin also releases chemicals that cause the painful sensation felt during sunburn. During this process, white blood cells attack and remove the damaged cells, which is why you become itchy and then peel.
The best way to treat sunburn is with over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams, a cool bath, and aspirin. Severe sunburn should be evaluated by a medical professional as a medical emergency.
Premature ageing – Also known as photoaging, premature ageing happens when there is prolonged unprotected exposure to UV radiation.
Over time, the skin becomes leathery, wrinkled, and riddled with dark spots.
It is understood that the UV rays break down the elastin fibers and collagen in the skin, which are responsible for keeping the skin looking tight and plump.
Damage to these causes wrinkles and loose skin. Dark patches can also be a result of spending too much time in the sun.
Naturally, there isn’t much you can do to reverse the effects of photoaging, but plastic surgeons may recommend chemical peels, dermabrasion, and skin fillers to help rejuvenate the skin.
Skin cancer – There are two types of skin cancer:
Melanoma is the least common type of skin cancer, but it is the most dangerous form.
Melanoma cancer begins in the epidermal cells that produce melanin in the skin.
Melanoma is usually curable if detected early.
Non-melanomas occur in the squamous or basal cells, which are located at the base of the epidermis. These non-melanomas develop in the most sun-exposed areas of the body.
UV radiation damages the DNA in skin cells, which in turn causes the skin to grow abnormally, resulting in both benign and malignant growths.
The UV radiation also weakens the body’s immune system, which compromises the body’s natural defences against cancer cells.
The predisposition to skin cancer can actually be hereditary, so if you have a history of melanoma in your family, you should take extra precautions.
Eye damage – While most reputable salons require you to wear eye goggles in the tanning dome or bed, the usual UV rays from the sun can damage your eyes. Photokeratitis is a sunburn-like condition affecting the cornea of the eye.
UVC and UVB exposure are the main culprits for this.
What is interesting is that most people who develop this condition contract it in high-altitude locations, often due to reflections of the snow in cold areas.
Broken mercury lamps and types of tanning lamps can cause intense artificial sources of UVC and UVB, which also cause photokeratitis.
Symptoms are tearing, pain, decreased vision and swollen eyes.
Corneas usually heal in 24–48 hours, and your doctor should be able to prescribe a topical treatment to help relieve symptoms.
UV rays can have such damaging effects on your body, especially on your skin.
The effects can range from mild to serious, and at times can be life-threatening.
This all shows why the FDA needs to have regulations and guidelines in place.
Other FDA proposed guidelines
While these haven’t been fully implemented yet, there are some other key changes proposed by the FDA that would need to be implemented at tanning salons.
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Changing the wording of warning statements to make them more effective.
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Limiting the amount of visible light seen through protective eyewear in order to protect consumers’ eyes from intense light.
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Improving the quality of wording on labelling for replacement bulbs so that tanning facility operators use the correct bulbs.
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Preventing manufacturers from making changes to equipment without having to recertify the device with the FDA, for example, by using stronger light bulbs.
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Requiring all tanning equipment and sunlamp products to have emergency off switches in case of an emergency that can be easily found by touch or sight.
What the FDA Wants You To Know When Using Tanning Devices
People will always use tanning devices, so the FDA is trying to inform everyone about the risks and provide information to protect users from potential dangers or permanent harm.
Here are some helpful measures the FDA proposes people put in place to reduce risks when using an indoor tanner:
Always wear eye protection – Failure to use proper eye protection can lead to both short-term and long-term eye damage.
Long exposure is not recommended – Staying in a tanning machine for the maximum amount of allowed time is not advised.
It can cause severe sunburn. Sunburn takes between 6 and 48 hours to develop, so you will not know the extent of the damage until it is too late.
Follow the recommended time – Manufacturers will have recommended exposure times listed on the labels of their products.
Follow these carefully and take the condition of your skin into consideration when working out these times.
Medication can worsen burns – Certain medications or cosmetic products can increase your skin’s sensitivity to UV radiation.
This can result in more severe burning. Always check with a doctor or pharmacist to see if you can tan while taking your medication.
24-Hour Tanning Rule
The 24-hour rule is in place to protect users from excessive tanning in a short period and to prevent overexposure.
The damage caused by overexposure is often detected too late and can sometimes be irreversible.
Exposure to UV radiation only builds throughout life, so your body will still be damaged by that serious sunburn you had twenty years ago.
Always remember to limit your time in a sunbed, even in the initial stages of building your tan.
Following the rules and guidelines will help prevent any serious damage to your skin and body, and hopefully leave you with a perfect, safe tan.
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