Science Advances: Regular Use of Tanning Beds Ages the Skin at the Genetic Level

A new study published in the journal Science Advances has shown that regular use of tanning beds leads to genetic changes in skin cells that make the skin “molecularly older” than that of people significantly older in age. This is the first large-scale study to compare the mutational “landscape” of the skin in young tanning-bed users with that of people nearly twice their age.

Scientists from the University of California, San Francisco, and Northwestern University analyzed data from more than 32,000 dermatology patients, including information on tanning-bed use, history of sunburns, and family history of melanoma—a dangerous form of skin cancer. For the genetic analysis, skin samples were separately collected from 26 donors, from which a total of 182 individual cells were sequenced.

The researchers found that the skin of young people who regularly used tanning beds carried a higher number of genetic mutations than the skin of people twice their age who did not use artificial tanning. This effect was especially pronounced in areas of the body that are rarely exposed to natural sunlight but are frequently irradiated during tanning-bed sessions (for example, the lower back).

Such mutations are considered to increase the risk of skin cancer, particularly melanoma—the deadliest form of skin cancer. In the United States, around 11,000 people die from melanoma each year, and its prevalence has risen alongside the popularity of artificial tanning devices.

The mechanism is clear: tanning-bed lamps emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which damages the DNA of skin cells and accelerates the accumulation of mutations. These changes are irreversible—as the study authors note, the only reliable way to avoid them is to reduce exposure to artificial UV radiation.

This discovery supports the position of the World Health Organization, which classifies tanning beds in the same group of carcinogens as tobacco smoke and asbestos—substances proven to increase the risk of serious diseases.

Beyond cancer risk, the study also highlights the effect of accelerated “biological aging” of the skin in tanning-bed users: in terms of mutation burden, their skin cells can resemble those of much older individuals. For this reason, dermatologists strongly recommend avoiding tanning beds, opting for safer alternatives to achieve a bronzed appearance (such as self-tanning products), and always using sunscreen when choosing natural sun exposure.

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