Indoor tanning: risks, benefits, and future trends.

The indoor tanning industry is a $1 billion-a-year business in the United States, and use of these high-intensity UVA tanning devices continues to grow. Many members of the medical community are concerned about the safety of these largely unregulated devices, but tanning salon operators state such concerns are unfounded and unproved. A comprehensive review of current knowledge of the operation and effects of indoor tanning is presented. The effects of UV radiation (especially UVA) on experimental animals and human beings are examined. Both acute and chronic effects are delineated from experimental sources as well as from epidemiologic studies and clinical observations. Existing safety regulations are described. Information on operator knowledge and compliance with existing safety regulations is reviewed.