On Oct. 9, California became the first state in the nation to enact a comprehensive ban on the use of indoor tanning beds by minors.

California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill sponsored by state Sen. Ted W. Lieu, a democrat. The bill, SB 746, was brought to fruition by the California Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery and the Aim at Melanoma Foundation, and is supported by the American Academy of Dermatology, the California Medical Association, Anthem Blue Cross, Kaiser Permanente, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, among other groups.

The law, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2012, prohibits tanning bed use by anyone under the age of 18, but makes an exception for physicians to prescribe use of the devices for phototherapy.

"Indoor tanning is especially harmful because of the intense and dangerous type of UV rays emitted from the tanning beds," said Sen. Lieu in a statement. "Moreover the skin damage is cumulative, so the more exposure one gets younger in life, the worse the harmful effects will be."

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, exposure to ultraviolet radiation from indoor tanning is associated with an increased risk of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer. There are more than 3.5 million skin cancers in more than 2 million Americans diagnosed annually.

"In 2011, California is expected to have 8,250 new cases of melanoma, which is approximately 12% of the national number of new cases, which is 70,230," said Dr. Ann F. Haas, past president of the California Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery in a statement. "Melanoma incidence rates have been increasing for the last 30 years, with the most rapid increases occurring among young, white women, 3% per year since 1992 in those ages 15 to 39," she added. "We pushed for this legislation in the hopes of stemming that rise and encouraging other states to follow California’s lead and prohibit the use of tanning devices by minors to reduce the incidence of skin cancer in the U.S." 

Dr. Ronald Moy, president of the American Academy of Dermatology, said that the organization supported the legislation and was pleased that it had been made into law. "We commend Gov. Brown, Sen. Ted Lieu, and the other members of the California legislature for their efforts to help reduce the future incidence of skin cancer by protecting youth from the dangers of indoor tanning," said Dr. Moy, in a statement.

Valerie Guild, president and founder of Aim at Melanoma, called the law a "major victory in the fight against melanoma." Added, Ms. Guild: "It is alarming that so many young women are unnecessarily developing melanoma because of a recreational activity. We hope other states will follow California’s lead."