California government bans teenagers from using tanning beds! What do you think?
By prettyruby
@prettyruby (350)
United States
October 16, 2011 4:00pm CST
Currently, it is illegal for teenagers under 14 to use tanning beds in tanning salons, and teenagers between 15-17 must have parental permission. However, starting January 2012, anyone under 18 will be banned from using tanning beds in tanning salons.
Personally, I think this is a step in the right direction. Tanning beds are basically cancer ovens in my mind! I think they should be treated much like cigarettes - heavily restricted and covered in warnings. If only all states had laws protecting children!
What do you think? Do you think this is a good idea? Or do you think the government is interfering too much in our personal decisions?
You can find the article citing the new law on the TIME magazine website.
6 responses
@Galena (9110)
•
17 Oct 11
of course children under 14 shouldn't use sunbeds.
and what parent would give permission for their child under 18 to use one?
a tan is NOT attractive. it's sun damage.
even if you have fake tan, it's fake sun damage. what next, drawing on wrinkles?
a fake tan is the same as fake wrinkles. why would you want it? pretend skin damage.
and real skin damage from the sun or a sunbed is even worse.
the sooner people realise pale, healthy skin is more attractive the better.
@prettyruby (350)
• United States
17 Oct 11
I totally agree! I don't think a lot of people realize that a tan is just sun damage showing itself.
I tend to scoff when people say that Asians (I'm of Chinese descent) look young - I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that the majority of Asians, especially women, avoid the sun, whereas a lot of white Americans tan the crap out of their skin. The ironic thing is, most Asians would love to be as pale as white Americans are naturally!
Of course, with all the Western media influence these days, a lot of Asians are starting to tan as well. It makes me want to cry when I see a tan Asian on TV.
@mariahhh (1328)
• United Arab Emirates
17 Oct 11
I think that is a really good idea. Tanning beds are really bad for our skin, and it might cause skin cancer. I think it would be better if they would ban it for everyone, not just for fourteen year old and below. I never knew that young kids also use it before. 
@chiyosan (30183)
• Philippines
17 Oct 11
oh its now that i have heard about this.
what does these tanning machine do, anyway? just tan, or color the skin? well we can have that in the beach too, but then i guess its too early for the teens tobe exposed to such anyway, their skin are still very vulnerable, very sensitive to be exposed right away to beauty treatment machines. ii would agree that they should be allowed or permitte dby their parents! :D
@oldchem1 (8132)
•
17 Oct 11
Children under the age are minors and therefore should be the responsibility of their parent or guardian up to they are 18. In the same way as it is illegal for them to smoke or drink so sunbeds should be banned too.
Anybody who has experienced a friend or relative suffering from melanoma must agree. This is the deadliest type of skin cancer, and around 90%of of melanomas are caused by exposure to ultraviolet light or sunlight.Most tanning beds give off about 95% UVA rays, which penetrate deep straight into the skin and 5% UVB rays, which hit the top layers and are most responsible for sunburns. So tanning beds are many times stronger than the midday summer sun in most countries and are therefore more dangerous.
We cover our children (or should do) with sun cream to protect them from the sun's rays so why allow them to lie in these cancer machines??
@prettyruby (350)
• United States
18 Oct 11
Wow, I didn't know those statistics about the UVA and UVB rays - I just knew that tanning beds emitted much higher concentrations of UV rays the the sun usually does. Thanks for the insight!
@Zer0Stats (1147)
• India
17 Oct 11
By itself,it's not a bad idea.
When compared to the laws on abortion,it does seem utterly ridiculous.
@prettyruby (350)
• United States
17 Oct 11
Haha, agreed. I think some 'personal' decisions are driven by the media which profit from reckless behavior (such as thinking smoking is cool and therefore wanting to smoke). The government should be able to step in when these types of things occur.
