States consider tanning bed bans for minors

California has already law; Florida legislature has considered bill for years

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Tanning beds for teens may soon be a thing of the past.

Eighteen states are considering laws that will make it illegal for anyone younger than 18 to use a tanning bed.

California has already outlawed indoor tanning for minors, despite the abundance of natural sunshine in the Golden State.

The states looking to impose similar bans have got the support of the American Academy of Dermatology.

According to its figures, 30 million people, including nearly 2.5 million teens, use tanning beds.

Studies show those beds are linked to the increased risk of developing skin cancer. It's even more dangerous for people to use them when they're young, according to those studies.

Opponents of the ban argue the law is just too much government intrusion and will cost thousands of jobs in the tanning industry.

Florida lawmakers have considered banning minors from using tanning beds for a few years now, but they've never put a law on the books.

Minors in Florida must have the consent of a parent to tan indoors.