Observations on social media platforms indicate a prevalence of indoor tanning bed use among young individuals, particularly women. This trend occurs after a period of decline in indoor tanning within the United States.
A 2025 survey conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology reported that 20% of Gen Z respondents prioritize obtaining a tan over skin protection. Additionally, 25% of respondents indicated a willingness to accept potential future negative aesthetic outcomes for current appearance benefits.
Research Findings on Melanoma Risk
A study published in the journal Science Advances investigated the correlation between tanning bed use and skin cancer. Researchers found that individuals who used tanning beds had nearly three times the likelihood of developing melanoma, a severe form of skin cancer, compared to those who had no history of indoor tanning.
Furthermore, the study identified DNA damage, which can precede melanoma development, across nearly the entire skin surface of tanning bed users. Precursor mutations leading to melanoma were detectable even in skin cells that appeared normal in these patients.
Dr. Pedram Gerami, a co-author of the study and a professor of skin cancer research at Northwestern University, noted that researchers compared medical records of approximately 3,000 patients with a history of tanning bed use to an age-matched control group without such exposure.
Dose-Response Relationship
The study established a dose-response relationship between tanning bed exposure and melanoma risk:
- Individuals with 10 to 50 tanning bed exposures exhibited twice the risk of melanoma compared to the control group.
- Those with over 200 tanning bed visits had more than eight times the risk.
Cellular-Level Damage
Genetic sequencing was performed on normal skin cells from tanning bed users, primarily younger women, who are noted as the heaviest users of indoor tanning in their teens and 20s. When these samples were compared to normal skin cells from individuals in the general population who were twice the age of the indoor tanners, a significant difference was observed.
Dr. Hunter Shain, a study co-author and associate professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco, stated that women in their 30s and 40s who used tanning beds had a higher number of mutations than individuals in the general population aged 70 and 80. This suggests an accelerated accumulation of UV damage in younger tanning bed users.
UV Radiation Intensity and Clinical Implications
Tanning beds can emit ultraviolet radiation that is 10 to 15 times more intense than natural sunlight. This contradicts claims that indoor tanning is a safer alternative to sun exposure.
Patients who began indoor tanning as adolescents often face frequent skin examinations, medical visits, biopsies, and the associated psychological impact of a cancer diagnosis at a young age.