Shedding a light on the potential dangers of teen tanning

DENVER - Brittany Leitz looks in the mirror every morning and doesn't see the reigning Miss Maryland. Instead, as she told the Colorado State Senate Health Committee on Wednesday, she sees a cancer survivor because of tanning beds.

"To date, I have had more than 26 repetitive surgeries that cover my body with scars and remain the constant reminder of why I teach people about this," said Leitz, who testified in favor of Senate Bill 23.

The bill seeks to prohibit Colorado teenagers from using tanning beds until they're 18 years old.

"I did this to myself. I know that. I made the wrong decision of using a tanning bed," said Leitz.

More than two dozen states have regulated the use of tanning salons by minors, in all cases requiring parental consent for anyone under the age of 18. Colorado's legislation goes further, seeking to ban the practice for teens altogether except in cases of medicinal need. It is estimated that 40 percent of all female teenagers have used a tanning bed.

The measure advanced on a 5 to 4, party-line vote with the Democrats in charge of the committee voting in favor. SB 23 will be debated by the full Senate in the next couple weeks. It is supported by Colorado's medical community.

"We understand tanning is something you choose to do, but I want to take away that choice," Leitz said. "I don't think we should give people an opportunity to make a choice that we know is wrong. We don't allow someone under 18 to smoke a cigarette because we know that it's wrong."

Critics charged the measure puts government in the role of parent and includes yet another mandate on private industry.

"The substance of a ban is not education," said Sen. Shawn Mitchell (R-Broomfield). "It might have an added education effect, but it is government control and force and punishment."

Statistics from the Indoor Tanning Association, which represents thousands of salons nationwide, show roughly 380 full tanning salons in Colorado, 90 percent of which require parental consent for teenagers. The industry estimates its annual sales at $5 billion each year. Salon owners testified that limiting access to facilities that stress moderation will lead teenagers into more dangerous situations to get tans.

"In my opinion, the law would only have minors tanning in uncontrollable situations and put more small businesses out of business," said Lee Pierce, who owns a tanning salon in Aurora.

For more about Senate Bill 23, you can click here.