The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended a ban on the use of indoor tanning beds in the United States for those below the age of 18 years. The recommendation has been made in an effort to cut the risk for skin cancer that arises due to indoor tanning practices. Medical researchers have been studying indoor tanning extensively over past decades.

The use of indoor tanning devices resulted in about 400,000 people being detected with skin cancer, out of which 6,000 were detected with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, according to a scientific research paper published in 2014. The cases of melanoma are increasing at a rate of approximately 3% each year over a period of last couple of decades, with tanning beds being a primary reason for the same. It was found that any use of tanning devices before 35 years of age increased the melanoma risk by 59% and overall melanoma risk rose by 20%.

“This is a tremendous advance. There will now be a national order against using devices for youth around the country. It will no longer be dependent solely on grass-roots state and local initiative”, said Dr. Jeffrey E. Gershenwald, the Medical Director of the Melanoma and Skin Center at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and a professor of surgery.

The agency has also recommended signing of a document by adults stating that they understand the risks associated with the use of tanning devices. Few Recommendations have also been made for tanning devices manufacturing companies.