Background: Adolescents frequently use indoor tanning facilities, but little is known about tanning facility operator opinions regarding this use. Objective To assess indoor tanning operator attitudes and stated practices regarding youth access.
Methods: We electronically surveyed 89 indoor tanning facilities and 130 spas with active e-mail addresses.
Results: The survey response rate was 21% for both indoor tanning facilities (19/89) and spas (27/130). Most tanning operators (92%) felt that a client can be too young to receive indoor tanning, and most felt that written parental permission should be required (80%). Most facilities required adult accompaniment (92%), and most operators had discouraged a customer from receiving indoor tanning based on age (77%). The reported age of the youngest patron receiving indoor tanning ranged from 5 to 21 years.
Conclusion: Our sample of indoor tanning facility operators believed that minimum age and parental consent regulations for indoor tanning should be required.