On average, an estimated 3234 indoor tanning– related injuries were treated each year in US hospital EDs from 2003 to 2012 (Table). Most injuries occurred among females (82.2%), non-Hispanic whites (77.8%), persons aged 18 to 24 years (35.5%), and in public settings (such as tanning salons) (64.4%). Most injuries were skin burns (79.5%), followed by syncope (9.5%) and eye injuries (5.8%). Indoor tanning– related injuries have decreased significantly from 6487 in 2003 to 1957 in 2012 (P < .001) (Figure).

Indoor tanning is associated with a substantial number of injuries treated in US hospital EDs. The majority of injuries were skin burns, and injuries occurred at the highest rates among younger adults and non-Hispanic white females, the population with the highest rates of indoor tanning.³ From 2003 to 2012, indoor tanning–related injuries treated in hospital EDs declined, likely due to reductions in indoor tanning.⁴

Most patients were treated in the ED and released, not requiring hospitalization. However, burns severe enough to warrant an ED visit clearly indicate overexposure to UV radiation and increase skin cancer risk.

Serious injuries occur despite US Food and Drug Administration standards and guidelines on indoor tanning devices.⁵ Although the Food and Drug Administration requires manufacturers of tanning devices to install timers to limit exposure,⁵ several case narratives in our study described patients falling asleep while tanning, raising concerns about timers either malfunctioning or being intentionally overridden. A study of tanning salons in North Carolina found that only 5% complied with Food and Drug Administration–recommended exposure schedules.⁶ The Food and Drug Administration reclassified indoor tanning devices in 2014, requiring new standards and labeling.⁵

Limitations of this study include not being able to capture injuries left untreated or treated in other settings. In addition, NEISS-AIP case narratives may not provide enough details to characterize injury circumstances. Lastly, location of injury was unknown for 30.4% of cases, and small sample sizes resulted in some unstable estimates. Despite these limitations, this study provides the first nationally representative estimates of indoor tanning–related injuries, allowing for continued monitoring of such injuries. Compliance with current federal and state regulations could be monitored to identify opportunities to decrease harm from indoor tanning. A decrease in indoor tanning could reduce associated injuries and future cases of skin cancer.