I just read somewhere that in Texas teens under the age of 16 1/2 may be banned from the tanning beds if a bill passes. Lawmakers are saying increased cases of melanoma among people in their 20s require drastic, preventive action at an earlier age. I think this could be a good thing, but needs to happen in more states. I see so many young people who are very dark and it looks unhealthy. I think that if you are doing it for a special occasion than that is okay, but for long period of time it just not good for you.

I tan at the most once a year and my parents lecture me during the entire month that I'm going.  Then I'm tan for a month and the following month I'm back to my normal skin color..  It's nice like you said for a special occasion, but it's very damaging to do it year round.  Sometimes when I go, I see girls who are soo tan with a orange pigment, it's sad because you know they're going to have problems with their skin when they're older.  It's very much a social thing, and the government should be allowed to monitor access that preteens have to the tanning salons.