University Policies Toward Indoor Tanning

On-campus indoor tanning facilities and college-issued cash cards usable for tanning charges are among practices that need to change.

Indoor tanning has been linked to the development of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers. This behavior is particularly prevalent in teenagers and young adults. Many states have enacted legislation prohibiting or restricting indoor tanning by people under the age of 18, which has diminished indoor tanning by this age group, but indoor tanning continues to be popular among college students. These authors examined the availability of indoor tanning facilities at the top 125 colleges and universities listed in US News and World Report.

Nearly half of the colleges surveyed had indoor tanning facilities on campus or in off-campus housing, with 12% having on-campus facilities. Although indoor tanning was not free, students at nearly 15% of schoo…

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)