WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 3, 2014) —Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie has signed into law a bill that protects minors from the dangers of indoor tanning. Hawaii joins Vermont, California, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, Oregon, Nevada, Texas and Washington by passing legislation that prohibits minors under the age of 18 from indoor tanning. The law is effective immediately.
“The American Academy of Dermatology Association is proud to have supported this legislation and commends the state of Hawaii for joining the fight against skin cancer, including melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer,” said board-certified dermatologist Brett M. Coldiron, MD, FAAD, president of the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA). “The science is clear. The risk for developing melanoma increases by 59 percent in individuals who have been exposed to UV radiation from indoor tanning devices, and the risks increase with each subsequent use. Since 2.3 million teens tan indoors in the United States annually, restricting teens’ access to indoor tanning is critical to preventing skin cancer.”
Support for the ban was provided by the AADA, AIM at Melanoma, American Cancer Society – Cancer Action Network, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association, Hawaii Department of Health, and the Hawaii Skin Cancer Coalition.
More than 3.5 million skin cancers in more than 2 million people are diagnosed annually. It is estimated that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime and more than 410 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in Hawaii in 2014.
The American Academy of Dermatology is dedicated to increasing the public’s understanding of skin cancer and motivating people to change their behavior to prevent and detect skin cancer. Visit the SPOT Skin Cancer™ website — www.SpotSkinCancer.org — to learn how to perform a skin self-exam, download a body mole map for tracking changes on your skin, and find free SPOT me™ skin cancer screenings in your area. You can also download free materials to educate others in your community, and those affected by skin cancer can share their story via the website.