Dr. Jeffrey Ellis appeared tonight on LI Talks, News 12 with Lea
Tyrrell to discuss and debate safety of indoor tanning with
Joseph Levy, the executive director of International Smart Tan
Network – a lobby for the indoor tanning association. The
discussion was prompted by the American Academy of Pediatrics
recent position statement to ban minors from tanning. The
International Smart Tan Network would like you to believe that
developing a tan is an intelligent way to minimize risk of
sunburn. It is NOT. The Indoor Tanning Association has been
cited by the FTC for making false claims related to the safety
of tanning. A tan gives you an SPF of 3 while causing DNA
damage. Tanning intensity and time regulation are poorly
enforced by facility staff with 95% of tanners exceeding time
limits and 83% of tanning booths producing more UVB than
standards allow. Here are the facts: - The World Health
Organization categorizes tanning beds as a carcinogen - The
International Agency for Research on Cancer categorizes tanning