We're a far cry from warm, sunny days or bathing suit season, but that isn't stopping the American Academy of Pediatrics from essentially telling the nation's teenagers to knock it off when it comes to tanning.

The organization is advocating legislation that would ban those younger than 18 years old from using tanning beds and asking parents to limit their children's sun exposure, recommendations published in this month's "Pediatrics."

Tanning beds produce intense UVA radiation, with some units exposing users to UVA that is 10 to 15 times higher than that of midday sun, the report states.

The rays penetrate deeper and are more likely to cause melanoma and other effects on the skin, said Dr. Suzanne Kilmer, a board- certified dermatologist and the founding director of the Laser Skin and Surgery Center in Sacramento.

"We're trying to limit tanning-bed use because we know now that it's carcinogenic," she said. "Just like we don't let kids smoke or drink, we shouldn't let them use tanning beds."

Artificially tanning is common among teenagers, especially girls. In a national survey, 24 percent of non-Hispanic white teenagers 13 to 19 years old used a tanning facility at least once. Another national survey found that 10 percent of youths ages 11 to 18 reported using indoor tanning sunlamps in the previous year, the report states.

And the incidence of both nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancer is on the rise. Melanoma incidence has been on the uptick for at least 30 years. Researchers have noted a 3 percent increase annually since 1992 in women ages 15 to 39, the academy of pediatricians reports.

Melanoma, which can occur in teens and young adults, is the second most common cancer of women in their 20s and the third most common cancer of men in their 20s.

And, it's the leading cause of skin cancer in children, Kilmer said.

"Children 18 and under shouldn't be able to use a tanning bed at all," she said.

The sun-kissed look is common among the teenagers Dr. Angelica Ha treats at Kaiser Roseville Medical Center, although it's hard to tell if they're tanning naturally or heading to tanning salons.

"Oftentimes they know in their hearts it's not the right thing to do, so they don't admit to it," the pediatrician said.

Do the teens understand the risk? Do they realize that only six severe sunburns in a lifetime increases the risk of melanoma by 50 percent? No, she said.

"We don't have the healthy respect for sun (or the UVA from tanning beds) that we should have," Ha said.

And while some teenagers are tanning to get as dark as they can – think Jersey Shore – others are tanning simply from being outdoors and playing sports.

"We absolutely want to encourage kids to be outdoors and playing, but just like when they're riding in a car and should be using a seat belt, they should be using sun protection for their own safety," Ha said.

Many states already have laws aiming to help curb use of tanning salons among those under 18 years old. At least 32 states now regulate use of tanning facilities by minors, according to information from the National Conference of State Legislatures.

In California, the business and professions code bans children under age 14 from ultraviolet tanning devices. For teens between 14 and 18 years of age, a parent or legal guardian must consent to the service in person, along with a written consent form that is valid for one year.

Sen. Ted Lieu, who as an assemblyman in 2007 worked to amend the law, said he plans to introduce new legislation this legislative session banning tanning bed use by anyone under 18 years old, which is what the original amendment called for in 2007 but got "watered down to the age of 14," he said.

"With every passing year, the evidence gets more clear that tanning beds cause skin cancer and skin cancer kills people," Lieu said.

Sun safety

Here are some common-sense ways to protect yourself from harmful rays. Doctors stress that skin cancer doesn't discriminate; people of any pigmentation are susceptible.

• Stay in the shade whenever possible.

• Wear proper clothing, hats and sunglasses. Cotton with a tight weave is recommended, and hats should have a 3-inch wide brim or bill facing forward. Infants should be dressed in lightweight long pants, long-sleeve shirts and brimmed hats that shade the neck.

• Limit exposure to peak midday sun (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

• On both sunny and cloudy days, use broad spectrum sunscreen (UVA and UVB), SPF 15 or higher, and reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating. And be sure to use enough – about 1 ounce of sunscreen per sitting for a young adult.

• Be careful near water, sand and snow. They reflect UV rays, which can quickly result in sunburns.

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