Robert F. Kennedy Jr. likes the sun. And now, so does the FDA.
In March, Kennedy — HHS Secretary — yanked a proposed rule. The one that would’ve kept kids off indoor tanning beds. It’s gone. Abruptly.
Dermatologists are furious. And understandably so.
Anthony Rossi works at Memorial Sloan Kettering. He’s a dermatologist. He’s also disappointed. “Frankly dangerous,” he says. “That’s not deregulation. That’s a step backward for children’s health.”
Зміст
The Rule Was Ready
Here is what you need to know about the rule that no longer exists:
- Origin: First proposed in 2015. It had legs. It almost passed.
- The Restriction: Minors couldn’t use beds. Adults would have signed waivers acknowledging skin cancer risks. Severe burns. Premature aging.
- The Gap: Already, places like California, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. had bans in place. Other states wanted parental consent. The federal ban was meant to close the loophole.
Kennedy pulled it.
A Dangerous Trend
UV radiation from tanning beds hits you hard. Think 5 to 15 times stronger than midday sun. That isn’t just light. It’s DNA damage. Direct hits. Mutations. Cells going rogue.
Skin cancer? It’s the most common cancer in the U.S.
UV radiation sits in the same carcinogen class as tobacco. Asbestos.
Kennedy’s notice says he isn’t denying the science. But he’s been spotted at DC tanning salons. He wants to end what he calls “aggressive suppression of… sunshine.” Vague. Ominous.
Timing is bad. Terrible, even.
The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement is growing. Their solution to sun safety? Build a “solar callus.”
What?
Yeah. It’s a thing. Or it’s becoming one. On TikTok, MAHA fans push the idea that sunscreen is a scam. A profit-driven lie by Big Pharma. Conspiracy theories thrive in comment sections.
Gen Z buys in.
A 2025 ADA survey found nearly 60% of Gen Z believe tanning myths. “A base tan prevents sunburn.” “I need sun tolerance.”
Is that real? Or is that marketing?
Danilo C. Del Campo runs Chicago Skin Clinic. He sees the fallout. “Tanning is making a comeback. Driven by TikTok.” Now that a federal guardrail is gone, kids have fewer protections.
The data backs up the dread:
* Melanoma rates in salon-goers? More than double the norm.
* Start tanning before 20? Melanoma risk jumps by nearly 50%.
The “Solar Callus” Is a Myth
Let’s talk about this callus business.
Proponents claim a gradual base tan builds armor. Rossi and Del Campo laugh at it. Actually, they’re not laughing. They’re alarmed.
“A tan is injury,” Del Campo explains. “Not a shield. Your skin is telling you it’s broken.”
Is “solar callus” in medical textbooks?
No. It’s a marketing buzzword. Internet slang masquerading as science.
Rossi breaks it down simply:
- A tan means DNA injury happened. The melanin response is reactive.
- The protection level? Roughly SPF 3 or 4. That is nothing against strong sun.
- Tanning beds emit mostly UVA rays. These penetrate deep. Right where melanoma starts.
You get the cancer risk. You don’t get the warning burn that makes you stay inside. It’s silent destruction.
Don’t Live Like a Vampire
Kennedy’s move sends a confused message. Melanoma is surging in people aged 15-29. And yet, the federal government removed a barrier.
Rossi has a simpler view. He doesn’t want people to hide from light forever.
“You can enjoy the sun,” he says. “Wear sunscreen. Get your Vitamin D. Be outside. That is healthy.”
What isn’t healthy is lying under a bulb that mimics equator-level noon radiation. Calling it wellness.
And handing the key to a teenager.
