RFK Jr. clears path for minors to use tanning beds, much to dermatologist dismay

randycupertino 63 points 20 comments May 06, 2026
www.latimes.com · View on Hacker News

Discussion Highlights (7 comments)

butterknife

Let's bring this back! https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/8iflwh/c...

theendisney

I like vitamine D. The salmon is full of mercury, the hemp is criminalized, there is either not enough sun, to much, we dont have time or we have reduced capacity to produce. 50% has a deficiency and many can probably use more than the bare minimum. UVB shouldnt just be legal, it should be mandatory.

replwoacause

That's because RFK Jr's dermatologist sees him walk in and starts shopping for a lake house. The man is walking melanoma.

amavect

I think the increased UVA poses the most risk of damage. I don't know of any metabolic use for UVA. As the article notes, tanning beds have a far worse UVB:UVA ratio than sunlight. Because UVB scatters more than UVA (Rayleigh scattering), shade increases the UVB:UVA ratio from 1:1 to about 0.52:0.35 under a shade umbrella, or 0.53:0.37 under a tree. See Table 1 (paywalled, sorry) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2005.04.039 of course, most that go to a tanning booth care more about looks than health

ktallett

God! This is only going to make the parents of pageant kids even more horrifying. Not only do you dress your child up like a street walker, but you will also give them skin cancer as well.

susiecambria

So get rid of antidepressants but bring on tanning beds! YES. America IS healthy again. Sigh.

jerlam

If I'm reading the article correctly, he's cancelling a proposed federal ban. So status quo remains, tanning beds are not federally banned but continue to be banned in 19 states for minors.

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