The state Legislature passed a tanning bed bill this past session. But not all tanning salon owners are against it.
The bill bans children under the age of 14 from indoor tanning. Those ages 14-17 are required to present proof of age, either a driver’s license or a government-issued ID, and they must have written consent from their parent or guardian and a photocopy of that adult’s identification. It only has to be presented once a year.
Kim Wherley, who owns Lion in the Sun Tanning in Fairmont, says her business won’t see much of an impact.
“We have always required parental signatures from 14-18,” stresses Wherley. “So if it’s 14 no tanning, that’s the only ones who are going to be affected and we don’t have much of that.”
In fact, Wherley says her insurance is pretty specific about who can and can’t tan. She says having state government standards will actually make it a bit easier.
“We’ve always been ready for regulations the way we operate our salons,” says Wherley.
The manager of a tanning salon in Barboursville, who asked to remain nameless, says she doesn’t have a problem with the law because of how they run their operation.
“We have a family business.”
That means parents usually come in to tan with their children, so permission is always clear.
There is one exception to the bill, “Nothing in this article may be construed as prohibiting any health care provider licensed under chapter thirty of this code from performing any action within the scope of his or her practice that results in prescribing the use of a photo therapy device to a patient regardless of the patient’s age for treatment of a medical condition.”
The manager of the Barboursville Salon says most of the 14-and-under crowd who come in to tan are there with a doctor’s order.
“They bring their kids in that have psoriasis and will put them in for five minutes or so.”
She says that helps clear up their skin condition.
She stresses that like most everything in life, she believes a little indoor tanning is OK.
“There are some good things about tanning salons. It’s kind of like a glass of red wine. It’s good for you but a whole bottle is not.”
Many dermatologists disagree. Experts with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration say, “There is no such thing as a safe tan. Any tan is a sign of skin damage.”