Read Full Article HereNew research found that even just a few sessions in these devices can lead to DNA damage in skin cells, raising the odds of cancer.
Despite growing awareness of the connection between tanning beds and skin cancer, devotees continue to use them to banish a wintry pallor. A new study put a specific number to the increased risk of the most deadly form of skin cancer, melanoma.
The research found tanning bed use led to a nearly threefold increased risk of melanoma, resulting from DNA damage to certain types of skin cells.
Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, such as from the sun or tanning beds, is one of the main risk factors for melanoma.Tanning Bed Users Have a Higher Risk for Skin-Cell Mutations
In the new study, researchers looked at the health records of about 3,000 self-reported tanning bed users ages 18 to 70, and compared them with about 3,000 patients of the same age without a tanning bed history.
They found that melanoma was diagnosed in 5 percent of tanning bed users, compared with 2 percent for non-users.
What Is Melanoma?
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops when melanocytes grow uncontrollably. While it’s not as common as other skin cancers, melanoma is considered more dangerous, as it’s more likely to spread to other parts of the body if it isn’t treated early.In 2025, nearly 105,000 new melanoma cases were expected to be diagnosed in the United States, and more than 8,400 people were expected to die from the cancer.
“Regular tanning bed users should know that their risk for melanoma is significantly elevated,” says Nicholas Golda, MD, a dermatologist at U.S. Dermatology Partners in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, who specializes in skin cancer. Dr. Golda was not involved in the latest research.
What Does Melanoma Look Like?
Patients should pay attention to the ABCDE of mole changes:
- Asymmetry
- Borders that are irregular, jagged, or uneven
- Colors that change or appear irregular
- Diameter greater than a pencil eraser (about 6 millimeters)
- Evolving in size, shape, or color
“Any mole that is growing, that has thickened, has changed color, or has become painful, itchy, or bleeding should be examined by a dermatologist,” Golda says.
How to Lower Your Melanoma Risk
Here are some other ways to lower your UV exposure and melanoma risk:
- Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day.
- Reapply sunscreen every two to three hours when you’re outdoors.
- Avoid midday sun.
- Wear sun-protective clothing.
- Stay in the shade as much as possible.
“I tell my patients that I want to see any new spot that they are concerned about,” Golda says. “Nobody knows your skin like you do, so if you see that a mole is changing, even subtly, or a spot has started itching or bleeding, I want to have them come in for an examination. Being vigilant and catching cancer early provides the best opportunity to get the best possible outcomes.”
