New Tanning Bed Regulations

Another step forward in turning out the lights on tanning beds

On May 29, 2014, the FDA issued a ruling that tanning beds and their lamps, previously classed as low-risk devices (class I), will now be classified as moderate risk (class II). Tanning lamp manufacturers will now be required to notify the FDA and receive clearance before their light sources can be sold. Manufacturers will also have to meet specific design characteristics before they can sell their products. Importantly, sunlamp products will have to display visible black-box warning labels stating that they should not be used by children younger than 18 years. The labels will also need to warn that “persons repeatedly exposed to UV radiation should be regularly evaluated for skin cancer.” Moreover, marketing materials for these products ar…

Reviewing Author

Craig A. Elmets, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Astellas Pharmaceuticals

EquityVaxin

Grant / Research support NIH; NIH/NCI; Veteran’s Administration; Ferndale Laboratories; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Inc.

Editorial boards Cancer Prevention Research; Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, & Photomedicine; UpToDate; eMedicine; Journal of Dermatological Sciences; JAMA Dermatology

Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Vice Chair, Committee on Science and Research); Photomedicine Society (Board of Directors)