A research team compared the medical records of around 3,000 patients who used tanning beds with those of 3,000 patients who did not. After adjusting for factors including age, sex, family medical history, and sunburn history, the researchers determined that patients who tanned were nearly three (3) times more likely to develop melanoma than those who did not. Furthermore, tanning patients were more likely to develop melanoma in locations that are typically shielded from the Sun, like the lower back and buttocks. To validate their results, the researchers also used donor skin to conduct DNA sequencing on the cells where melanoma develops. They found that skin from tanning bed users contained nearly twice (2x) as many mutations as skin from non-tanners.
The researchers suggest that tanning salons carry a cancer warning similar to cigarette packages, noting that the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies smoking, asbestos, and tanning beds as the same level of carcinogen. “At the very least, indoor tanning should be illegal for minors,” study lead author Pedram Gerami said in a statement.
REFERENCE: Science Advisor; 15 DEC 2025; Various authors collaborated on the paper