California bans tanning for people under 18, local tanning salons likely unaffected if Michigan follows

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Beginning Jan. 1 California will ban tanning for those under 18-years-old, leading to questions of when other states will follow.

As the first U.S. state to sign the bill, California Senator Ted Lieu said it is being done to protect teens from radiation exposure and improve the health of Californians.

The current Michigan tanning law requires parents to sign a consent form in person for customers under 18, according to Michigan Compiled Laws.

Lauren Elias, assistant manager at Mountain Tan, 1635 E. Broomfield St., said the majority of their customers are 18.

“If people under 18 do come in, it is usually for an occasion like prom, homecoming or vacations,” she said.

If Michigan legislation decides to implement this new law, Elias said cliental may be lowered.

“I think it would affect all tanning salons, but overall, we would survive since we don’t see many people under 18 as it is,” she said.

School of Health Sciences Associate Professor Irene O’Boyle said health risks are higher for young tanners.

“Increased risks for younger individuals include higher risk of developing skin cancer because of a lighter, natural skin,” she said.

Although studies show endorphins are released to indicate a relaxation response that is common after tanning, she said the legislation is an excellent step by California.

“Parents need to know the risks for their children,” she said.

Certain factors could increase the possibility of developing skin cancer from tanning. They include a history of sunburn early in life, developing freckles or easily reddened skin, having blue or green eyes and red or blond hair, O’Boyle said.

Additional factors include if a person has a large number of moles, gets frequent cold sores, has lupus or vitligo (a skin lightening disease) or they are immune suppressed.

“The most deadly form of skin cancer is Melanoma,” she said. “It is estimated that about 95 percent of all cases of melanoma arise from an existing mole.”

Chelsey Gimpel, an employee at Image Sun, 4445 E. Blue Grass Road, said about less than 5 percent of their customers are under 18 years old.

“Mostly everyone who comes in is from CMU and shows their student ID to tan,” she said. “So if this law did happen, I don’t think it would really affect us.”

Grand Rapids sophomore Courtney Heeren said she started tanning at age 15.

“For like twenty minutes it is just quiet and warm and it makes me feel good,” she said.

As an employee of Hot Tropics tanning salon in Comstock Park, she said she thinks the decision to tan should be the customer’s.

“If you want to have the risk of getting skin cancer, that should be your choice, not the government’s,” she said.