Some people at Ball State University don't think students care much about the Food and Drug Administration announcing last week plans to investigate the effectiveness of warning labels in tanning salons.
The FDA is looking into making the label bigger in the tanning bed, as well as offering the information in a more concise, bulleted format.
Health educator Julie Sturek said she doesn't think new warning labels will influence students to change their tanning habits.
'College students think they're kind of invincible,' she said. 'I think it may convince people who have never gone tanning before to step back and consider it.'
She said the Health Education department doesn't host any programs to promote safe tanning. But it will be hosting Spring Break Safety Week in early March, and a part of the presentation addresses safe ways to tan in the sun.
Freshman Christa Castillo said she doesn't think students will take much notice of the new label.
'I don't think kids will care,' she said. 'It could be effective for parents to read. Maybe if their kid's just turning 16 it would be good for them to read before they start tanning.'
Senior Corrine Mills said she doesn't tan because she wants to maintain healthy skin.
'I don't tan because of cancer,' she said. 'It makes you age too. People that are 20 look like they're 30. I want to look good in my older years.'
The current signage begins 'DANGER - Ultraviolet radiation. Follow instructions. Avoid overexposure. As with natural sunlight, overexposure can cause eye and skin injury and allergic reactions.'
John Overstreet, executive director of the Indoor Tanning Association, a trade group of the tanning industry, said this is the first stage of a long process.
'It takes years once it gets started, so it won't affect Spring Break this year,' he said. 'The process is designed to move slowly.'
Overstreet said there are already several regulations in place by the FDA to govern the tanning industry, and they're doing a good job. But there's one crutch to the FDA's argument, he said, which is the inability to recognize a specific injury as a result of tanning.
'They almost can't measure it,' he said.
The first formal hearing to alter signage will take place March 25, and Overstreet said his company will speak against it. The FDA's report to Congress also addresses specifications in the type of bulbs used in tanning beds.
Tanning beds are classified along with bandages and tongue depressors in the low-risk Class I category of medical devices.
Overstock said tanning beds are highly regulated even though they're considered low-risk medical devices. The desire to pass tanning regulations is unnecessary, he said.
'People get scared, and [the industry] is dependent on us to say, 'Wait, look at the facts,' he said. 'This industry has enemies, and they're in a fight with people who want the industry banned.'
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