--- title: FDA Proposes Age Limit For Tanning Beds description: The FDA released proposed rules on Friday to restrict the use of indoor tanning among minors. canonical: https://time.com/4154706/fda-indoor-tanning-beds/ author: Alexandra Sifferlin article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-12-18T15:32:25.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-22T13:29:39.104Z article:section: Health og:title: FDA Proposes an Age Limit For Tanning Beds og:description: The FDA released proposed rules on Friday to restrict the use of indoor tanning among minors. og:url: https://time.com/4154706/fda-indoor-tanning-beds/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt195a4a42aa178bad/6988760ccd1bba2a0e6fe997/tann.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4913 og:image:height: 2764 og:image:alt: 73985688 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: FDA Proposes an Age Limit For Tanning Beds twitter:description: The FDA released proposed rules on Friday to restrict the use of indoor tanning among minors. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt195a4a42aa178bad/6988760ccd1bba2a0e6fe997/tann.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # FDA Proposes an Age Limit for Tanning Beds > Sponsored content. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=7ed3c18c-7617-4bf6-bd84-da279a266540&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) by [Alexandra Sifferlin](https://time.com/author/alexandra-sifferlin/) ## Alexandra Sifferlin Dec 18, 2015 3:32 PM UTC  Illuminated tanning bed Illuminated tanning bed Getty Images by [Alexandra Sifferlin](https://time.com/author/alexandra-sifferlin/) ## Alexandra Sifferlin Dec 18, 2015 3:32 PM UTC The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released [proposed rules](http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm477434.htm?source=govdelivery&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fsource=govdelivery) on Friday to restrict the use of indoor tanning among minors. Indoor tanning is a known risk factor for skin cancer. The proposed restrictions are also intended to reduce the risk of indoor tanning for adults. The rule proposed by the FDA would restrict the use of sunlamp products, including tanning beds, to people age 18 and older. The rule also suggests that adults age 18 and older must sign a risk acknowledgement certification before their first tanning session, and every six months after that, stating they have been informed of the risks of indoor tanning. **MORE**: [24 Visits To The Nail Salon Could Trigger Skin Cancer](http://time.com/82830/24-visits-to-the-nail-salon-could-trigger-skin-cancer/) The second proposed rule requires manufacturers to implement more safety restrictions. The changes include making warnings easier to read on the devices, requiring emergency shut-off switches and adding restrictions to the amount of light allowed through protective eye wear people use during tanning. The FDA reports that there are about 18,000 to 19,000 indoor tanning salons and 15,000 to 20,000 other facilities like spas that offer tanning. Indoor tanning exposes users to both UVA and UVB rays, which harm skin and can cause skin cancer, [according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)](http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic%5Finfo/indoor%5Ftanning.htm). The FDA reports that 1.6 million minors indoor tan each year. Initiating indoor tanning at an early age increases a person’s risk for getting melanoma, likely due to greater use, and the effects of UV ray exposure are known to amass over time. In a statement about the proposed rules, the FDA reports that people who are exposed to radiation from indoor tanning are 59% more likely to develop melanoma compared to people who have never used indoor tanning. **MORE**: [This Is The Only Sunscreen Article You Need To Read](http://time.com/3924609/sunscreen-spf-uva-uvb/) In addition, the CDC says indoor tanning also causes premature skin aging, changes in skin texture and a higher risk for eye diseases. 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