RK Jr. has signed a notice to the FDA stating that teenagers should be able to use tanning beds, despite the fact that exposure to UV radiation does not cause skin cancer. Tanning beds emit up to five to 15 times more concentrated ultraviolet (UV) radiation than the midday sun, which damages skin cell DNA and can trigger mutations that cause cells to multiply uncontrollably and turn cancerous. The timing of the ruling coincides with the increasing popularity of the Make America Healthy Again movement, which advocates the use of gradual sun exposure instead of using sunscreen. A 2025 survey by the American Academy of Dermatology found that nearly 60% of Gen Zers believe at least some tanning myths, including the belief that getting a base tan will prevent skin from sunburn and that building up your "sun tolerance" is necessary.