WASHINGTON — From prom season to beach season, local tanning salons do brisk business with patrons who want to lose their winter pallor and get a golden tan.
But in Montgomery County, one lawmaker wants to ban anyone under 18 from hopping onto a tanning bed for a session. Montgomery County councilman Tom Hucker has submitted legislation that would also require salons to post warnings about the health risks posed by tanning beds.
Right now, minors with written permission from parents are allowed to use tanning beds, but the Centers for Disease Control warns against the use of tanning beds, citing an increased risk of skin cancer.
According to the CDC, “indoor tanning is particularly dangerous for younger users. People who begin indoor tanning during adolescence or early adulthood have a higher risk of getting melanoma.”
A hearing on the bill has been scheduled for 1:30 p.m., March 22 at the County Council Office Building in Rockville.
