Should Minors Be Allowed to Use Tanning Beds?

by SodaHead News Posted 2012/05/10 22:00:00

Related Topics: Tanning, tanning booths, Minors, New York, Chicago, Patricia Krentcil, Cigarettes, Funny, Mom, Prom, Snooki, Daughter, CBS

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719 votes
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	Yes	134 votes	19%
	No	585 votes	81%

In the wake of controversy surrounding Patricia Krentcil, who was accused of putting her 6-year-old daughter into a tanning booth, New York lawmakers are contemplating an outright ban on the use of tanning booths for minors. But Krentcil's case isn't the only reason it's being considered. Officials say they're concerned about teen use, particularly around prom, and the 72 percent increase in melanoma that The American Cancer Society has reported over the last decade.

A similar law was proposed in Chicago by Alderman Debra Silverstein, who told CBS, "When I saw this news story about [Krentcil] on the news, I was like, we really have to do something. We have laws against selling cigarettes to minors, because it causes cancer, and tanning in the tanning beds causes cancer." Unfortunately for much of the nation, Snooki is over 18, so she'll be allowed to continue tanning regardless. But is the proposed ban taking it too far?

+28

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Joanna the Great 2012/05/10 23:12:58

No

+16
Nobody should use tanning booths, ever. You are literally cooking yourself, it's disgusting.
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More polls by SodaHead News

Artisan... to Seeker ... 2012/05/12 22:12:15

tanning booths give more concentrated uv rays than sunlight does. That's how it's more dangerous. Use the sun to go tanning, the possibility of cancer is there but not nearly as bad as regularly tanning in a booth.

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Seeker ... to Artisan... 2012/05/13 00:26:13

+1
It's more concentrated, but you stay in there for only a short period. If used properly, it's safer than the sun, since the bed turns off automatically after the designated session time, but the sun does not.

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Artisan... to Seeker ... 2012/05/12 22:13:13

and tanning booths don't give you vitamin D like natural sunlight does

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Seeker ... to Artisan... 2012/05/13 00:25:22

+1
Yes they do. You produce vitamin D from exposure to UV light.

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Artisan... to Seeker ... 2012/05/13 04:29:28

they look like torture chambers. and they give you a higher risk of cancer. safe to say that because i'm African American I don't need a tan.

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Jen to Artisan... 2012/05/15 03:23:58

I think what some folks here may be telling us is that 'Au naturel' tans are less harmful overall in the long run. Tanning bed would make me claustrophobic!

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ThinkAb... to Seeker ... 2012/05/14 15:09:39

+1
Thank You for trying to educate these people that want to regulate others through their misunderstanding.

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meho 2012/05/10 23:05:55

No

+2
After they are 18 if they want they should know better

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firebird 2012/05/10 23:05:02

No

+3
No, not at all.. There has to be some common sense used in this decision. Minors should not be allowed to alter then bodies in any form until they turn at least 18 years of age. Haircuts excluded...That way the decision is theirs and their responsibility.

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ThinkAb... to firebird 2012/05/14 15:08:00

common sense is allowing people to choose for themselves.

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Bill 2012/05/10 23:03:58

No

+1
Why would anyone want to be in a tanning bed ?

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Lisa to Bill 2012/05/10 23:08:43

+1
Personally , I think they should outlaw them , i dont like governement control , but this is one deal where the public is endangering themselves for the future. What's wrong with sunshine and beach or pool?

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Bill to Lisa 2012/05/10 23:13:55

+1
I'm paying the price now for working outside my whole life. Have to see the plastic surgeon tommorrow. Another divot. Why endanger yourself more than necessary?

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Lisa to Bill 2012/05/10 23:37:20 (edited)

I agree. My uncle had a job and he was out int he sun all day long. He never used sunscreen , i dont even think they had it then .He was very fair skinned and got a melanoma on his face and never went to see the doctor until it was too late , they had to cut away half of his face. He was a very handsome man and it was a devastaing blow . He lived about 8 years after that. So many light skinned people are more at risk than others. The surfers of of the 60'd are spending a lo tof time at the Derm and plastic surgeons offices now. Tanning beds dont cut down the risk , they probabaly increase it!

I hope all goes well for you and that it is not that serious.

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ThinkAb... to Lisa 2012/05/14 15:07:14

What's wrong with freedom to choose.

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Cyan9 2012/05/10 23:01:50

No

+1
What about that tanning surtax?

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