New laws in Rhode Island, Vermont, and California are making it harder for teens to hit the tanning bed.

The state government in these three states requires teens to get permission from a parent, legal guardian, or doctor, before they are allowed into a tanning bed.

The immediate implications of excessive expose to harmful UV rays are hard for teens to grasp, and although state governments are pushing parents to be involved in their teen’s decision to use tanning beds, talking about the extreme risks involved may deter teens from actually wanting to go in the beds at all.

New studies point to the advantages of sitting down with your teen and discussing the long-term, harmful effects of UV exposure. As this article explains, talking to your kids about how sun exposure leads to unattractive skin may resonate stronger with your kids than explaining the risks of skin cancer alone.

Talk to your kids about how sun exposure leads to leathery, wrinkled skin way sooner for those that spend a lot of time in the sun than individuals that use sunscreen and stay in the shade. It is important to continue to stress the risk of skin cancer, but explaining sun damage in a more tangible way may be a great starting point in your next conversation.

Need a helpful visual to show your teen what sun exposure can do? Check out this photo of a 69 year old truck driver who never wore sunscreen.