A stark new scientific study has delivered a powerful warning to those seeking a sun-kissed glow from indoor tanning beds: the practice causes genetic damage that can age your skin by decades and dramatically increases the risk of developing the deadliest form of skin cancer.
Genetic Ageing Accelerated by Artificial UV
While the link between tanning beds and skin cancer has been known, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco and Northwestern University have uncovered, for the first time, the profound extent of genetic ageing they cause. The study, examining over 32,000 dermatology patient records and skin samples from 26 donors, found that young indoor tanners in their 30s and 40s exhibited more mutations in their skin cells than people in the general population aged 70 and 80.
"We found that tanning bed users in their 30s and 40s had even more mutations than people in the general population who were in their 70s and 80s," explained Dr. Bishal Tandukar from San Francisco. "In other words, the skin of tanning bed users appeared decades older at the genetic level."
The Dangerous Rays Inside the Bed
The research highlights a critical difference between natural sunlight and the artificial light used in tanning salons. The bulbs in tanning beds primarily emit UVA rays, which penetrate deeply into the skin. While ultraviolet light has benefits like vitamin D production, the body requires UVB rays for this process.
UVA radiation is particularly effective at causing cell ageing, wrinkles, and certain skin cancers. Alarmingly, the study noted that tanning beds increase mutations even in areas like the lower back, which typically receives minimal sun damage, by exposing these regions to concentrated ultraviolet radiation.
Melanoma Risk Skyrockets, Especially for the Young
The most concerning finding is the dramatic increase in the risk of melanoma. The study confirms that using tanning beds triples the risk of developing this aggressive cancer. Young women, who are the primary patrons of the tanning industry, are among the most vulnerable groups.
The risk is most pronounced for those who start indoor tanning young. An individual who begins using tanning beds before the age of 35 has approximately a 60% higher risk of melanoma. Other high-risk groups include people over 50, those with a history of sunburn, individuals with fair skin, hair, and eyes, and those with a family history of skin cancer.
Common signs of melanoma that everyone should watch for include lesions with uneven, ragged edges, multiple shades of brown or black, a darker appearance than other moles, and changes in size, shape, colour, or elevation. In the United States alone, melanoma is projected to cause over 8,400 deaths this year, a grim statistic underpinned by the widespread use of artificial tanning.
