Will New York State ban teen tanning?

ALBANY, N.Y. (WIVB) - Is New York State putting permanent sunblock on teen tanning?

As of July 1st, a 10 percent tax was added for all individuals seeking that golden glow at an indoor tanning salons. This tax was included in the Obama Administration's health care overhaul and the initiative is expected to generate $2.7 billion over ten years.

As you can imagine, many tanning customers are not in favor.

Director of Marketing for Tanning Bed Cheri Forsythe said, "It's making it more and more difficult to afford a small luxury, something you want to do for a little treat for yourself. It's an unfair tax. Our customers are definitely upset about it."

And the Indoor Tanning Association is trying to get this new tax repealed.

"We have up behind our counter these pin-up signs that you can purchase for a dollar. That money goes to fight to repeal the tan tax," said Forsythe.

New York State has also juggled the idea of banning teens under 18 from tanning all together. But that has not been passed yet, and right now many local salons require parental consent for those under 18. If that new legislation were to pass, it would be even tougher for indoor tanning businesses to stay afloat because people between the ages of 18 and 34 frequent the salons the most.

Forsythe spoke of a few benefits of indoor tanning, saying, "It's the best way for your body to get vitamin D because it's how your body naturally gets vitamin D."

However, Gisselle Colon is a tanning critic. She was recently diagnosed with melanoma.

"I think I was in shock for a day or two before I realized how serious this is," said Colon.

Melanoma is one of the deadliest and most preventable forms of cancer, so many believe the government added the tax hoping to reduce the rising rate of melanoma. Now only time will tell if this tax is the right answer.

For more information on New York's tanning legislation or the newly added tanning tax, you can visit the Indoor Tanning Association's website . There you can also help repeal the tax.