Ohio considers barring all minors

Hamilton, Ohio - Ohio could become the first state to protect all minors from harmful tanning parlor rays, says Louis L. Barich, M.D., past president of the Ohio Dermatological Association (ODA) and co-chair of ODA's Photobiology Educational and Legislative Committee.

Since January, "There have been probably a dozen-plus bills introduced into various state legislatures" regarding tanning, Dr. Barich says.

The Ohio proposal arose from a resolution to protect minors from indoor tanning parlor UV rays introduced in spring 2006 by the ODA, in conjunction with organizations including the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and the Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA) House of Delegates, where it passed unanimously.

From there, the resolution went to the American Medical Association (AMA) with a request that it be used to help develop and disseminate to component medical societies model state legislation prohibiting tanning parlor UV sales to minors. The AMA House of Delegates resolved to do just that in June 2006, Dr. Barich says.

As for the Ohio bill's chances, he says it's anybody's guess. However, he says the legislation enjoys strong support from the OSMA, ODA, AAD and others. Their goal is "to somewhere pass legislation that would prohibit the sale of tanning parlor rays to all minors."

Once one state cracks this barrier, Dr. Barich says, "It will be easier for others to do the same."

For more information: http://www.aad.org/