LFP Local News: Pediatrician burning mad over pre-teen tanning

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June 23, 2001

Pediatrician burning mad over pre-teen tanning

By STEPHANIE CESCA -- Free Press Reporter
A local doctor wants London to help regulate the tanning salon industry, especially the involvement of young people.

And he may have found a supportive ear at the local health unit.

Dr. Terry Polevoy, a pediatrician with skin clinics in London and Kitchener, said he's tired of hearing tales of elementary pupils using tanning salons.

"This entire industry is so greasy. Why isn't it being regulated?" he said. "The City of London should act now to protect children's lives."

But a London tanning salon owner says she's among many owners who don't let young people tan without parental consent.

"It's not a law, but it's kind of a guideline," said Calla Leitch, who owns Tahiti Breezes Sun Salon.

No level of government regulates the business currently, but Dr. Polevoy says some level must get involved to stop the tanning industry targeting young people and bombarding them with dangerous notions of beauty.

"They hire these young chickies and body building guys to send their friends in," he said.

Meanwhile, he said, people die of skin cancer every day, including his wife, who died seven years ago at 43.

Polevoy took his concerns to Coun. Susan Eagle, who took his message to the board of health meeting this week.

"We're looking into it right now," said George Blair, manager of the environmental health team at the Middlesex London health unit.

An investigator from the health unit will visit the city's tanning salons and compile a report.

Although there are no laws governing the salons, Blair said the health unit has general guidelines that owners are encouraged to follow, such as prohibiting children and people with skin conditions from tanning.

If the investigator concludes there's a problem with young people tanning, Blair said he'll discuss the situation with city council.

After that, it would be up to council to deal with the legal issues, although a public education awareness campaign on the dangers of tanning is a possibility, he said.

But Eagle warned imposing regulations on tanning salons would most likely be a provincial matter.

Leitch said she's with many local tanning salon owners in adopting a policy not to let anyone under 18 tan without parental consent.

Leitch has also posted information about medications that could have adverse affects when mixed with sun exposure and asks everyone to fill out a form and sign a waiver.

Most of Leitch's clients are between 25 and 40.

While her oldest client is 86, her youngest is 14, a girl who came with her mother and tanned to look good for her Grade 8 graduation.

Leitch says she does her part, but it's really an individual decision.

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