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Tanning Beds linked to Sweeping DNA Damage & Substantially Increased Melanoma Risk: New Research “Irrefutably” Counters Industry Claims

CHICAGO, IL – December 15, 2025 – A groundbreaking new study published today in Science Advances delivers a stark warning about the dangers of indoor tanning. Researchers at Northwestern Medicine and the University of California, san Francisco, have definitively linked tanning bed use to widespread DNA damage across nearly the entire skin surface – damage far exceeding that caused by natural sunlight – and a nearly threefold increase in melanoma risk. The findings directly challenge claims made by the indoor tanning industry regarding the safety of their devices.

Key Findings:

* Dramatic Mutation Increase: Individuals who used tanning beds exhibited nearly twice the number of DNA mutations in skin cells compared to those who had never used them.
* Widespread Damage: Crucially, these mutations weren’t limited to sun-exposed areas. They were found in regions rarely touched by sunlight,like the lower back and buttocks,demonstrating the pervasive impact of tanning bed radiation.
* Precursor Mutations Identified: Researchers discovered DNA changes in seemingly normal skin from tanning bed users – changes that act as “precursor mutations” significantly increasing the likelihood of developing melanoma. This is a previously unknown effect.
* Important Risk Increase: Analysis of over 6,000 medical records revealed a 2.85-fold increase in melanoma risk among tanning bed users, even after accounting for other risk factors like age, sex, sunburn history, and family history.
* Melanoma Surge in younger Women: The study was partially motivated by a clinical observation: a disproportionately high number of women under 50 with multiple melanoma diagnoses reported frequent tanning bed use.

The Science Behind the Story:

The research team, led by Dr. Pedram Gerami of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, employed advanced genomic sequencing techniques to analyze melanocytes (pigment-producing skin cells) from three groups: frequent tanning bed users, individuals who had never tanned indoors, and a control group of cadaver donors. The single-cell DNA sequencing revealed the alarming extent of genetic damage inflicted by tanning beds at the molecular level.

“Even in normal skin from indoor tanning patients, areas where there are no moles, we found DNA changes that are precursor mutations that predispose to melanoma,” explained Dr.Gerami. “That has never been shown before.”

Industry Claims Debunked:

for years, the indoor tanning industry has downplayed the risks associated with their services, often arguing that tanning beds are no more dangerous than natural sunlight. This new research “irrefutably” counters those arguments, demonstrating a significantly more damaging effect.

Melanoma: A Deadly Threat:

Melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer, responsible for approximately 11,000 deaths annually in the U.S. This study underscores the urgent need for increased public awareness about the dangers of indoor tanning and stricter regulations on the industry.

Further Information:

Melanoma survivors who previously used tanning beds are available for interviews. The full study can be found in Science Advances.

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* **International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC):** Classified UV-emitting tanning devices as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2A) in 1992 and later as carcinogenic (Group 1) in 2015.

Wikipedia‑Style Context

Indoor tanning devices, commonly called tanning beds or sunbeds, emerged in the early 1970s as a commercial application of ultraviolet (UV) lamps originally designed for phototherapy. Early models used high‑pressure mercury vapor lamps that emitted a mixture of UVA (320-400 nm) and UVB (280-320 nm) radiation, mimicking the spectrum of natural sunlight but at intensities up to ten times higher. By the late 1980s the industry had expanded worldwide, with an estimated 20 000‑plus commercial salons in the United States alone.

The health debate began shortly after their popularity surged. In 1992 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified UV‑emitting tanning devices as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2A). A landmark 2002 NIH meta‑analysis later demonstrated a statistically notable association between indoor tanning before age 35 and a 1.5‑fold increase in melanoma risk, prompting public‑health warnings from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Dermatology.

Regulatory responses have been incremental. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first re‑classified tanning devices as Class II medical devices in 2009, mandating warning labels about skin‑cancer risk. In 2015 the WHO reaffirmed that all forms of UV radiation are carcinogenic, and several states enacted bans on tanning for minors. By 2019 the FDA issued a final rule prohibiting commercial indoor tanning for individuals under 18 years of age, citing growing evidence of DNA damage and melanoma incidence.

Scientific techniques for assessing the biological impact of tanning have also evolved. Early studies relied on epidemiological surveys and skin‑exam histology, whereas the past decade has seen the adoption of whole‑genome sequencing, single‑cell RNA profiling, and comet assays to directly measure DNA lesions in skin cells after exposure. These advances have clarified that even brief UVA exposure from tanning beds can generate oxidative DNA damage, mutagenic cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers, and precursor mutations that may later evolve into melanoma.

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