Artificial tanning of the skin in tanning beds has been part of beauty routines for years, especially among younger women who want a "quick tan" without going to the beach. But new research by American scientists shows that the price of such a tan is not only accelerated aging of the skin on the surface, but also dramatically accelerated aging at the genetic level. The skin of regular tanning bed users in their thirties and forties looks, viewed through mutations in cells, like the skin of people in their seventies and eighties.

A team from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and Northwestern University analyzed the skin of tanning bed users and compared it with people who are not exposed to artificial sources of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The result was shocking even for the scientists themselves: the skin of young people who sunbathe in tanning beds is literally "seeded" with cells that already carry mutations associated with melanoma, one of the deadliest skin cancers. These changes are not visible to the naked eye – the skin may look healthy – but at the microscopic and genetic level, the "seeds" of future tumors have already been sown in it.

Artificial UV radiation: what happens in the skin when we enter a tanning bed

Tanning beds use powerful artificial sources of UV radiation (primarily UVA, but often UVB as well) to stimulate skin darkening in a short time. UV rays penetrate the surface layers of the skin, damage DNA in cells, and trigger the body's defense reaction: melanocytes create more melanin, a pigment that absorbs part of the UV radiation. Tanning, therefore, is not a sign of health, but an alarm signal that the skin has suffered damage.

Such DNA damage is sometimes successfully repaired, but some "typos" remain permanently written in the genetic code of cells. Every time we enter a tanning bed, we add a new layer of mutations to the existing ones. Most of these mutations may never lead to cancer, but the more there are, the greater the likelihood that a fatal combination of changes will occur in a cell that will trigger tumor formation.

Unlike the natural sun, which depends on the time of day, weather conditions, and the angle of incidence of rays, a tanning bed delivers a concentrated, predictable, and often very intense "cocktail" of UV radiation in a short time. Many users are deceived by a sense of control – they have the impression that they are "safer" than on the beach because sessions last a few minutes and take place in a controlled environment. New research shows that this feeling is false: skin genetics remembers every minute under the lamp.

New research: young skin with the genetics of an old person

In a study published on December 12, 2025, in the prestigious journal Science Advances, scientists first analyzed the medical records of more than 32,000 dermatology clinic patients. They tracked data on tanning bed use, history of sunburns, and family predisposition to melanoma. Then they went a step further: they took skin samples from 26 volunteers and sequenced 182 individual cells to precisely measure the number and type of mutations.

When they compared people in their thirties and forties who regularly use tanning beds with people from the general population in their seventies and eighties, they obtained a stunning result: young tanning bed users had more mutations than people twice their age. In other words, their skin was biologically and genetically decades older than their actual chronological age. The differences were particularly dramatic on the lower back – a region of the body that is relatively protected from the sun in everyday life, but is exposed to direct UV radiation during tanning bed sessions.

Precisely in these "hidden" places, scientists found a large number of cells that already carry mutations known from melanoma. These cells are not yet tumorous, but they represent what the lead author of the study vividly described as "cancer seeds": an additional series of damages or stimuli is enough for an invasive tumor to develop from them. The fact that such a genetic signature is found in the skin of people who feel healthy and do not see any changes worries public health experts.

Another important piece of data is that the sample of patients included people of various age groups and sun exposure habits. However, the most pronounced genomic "fingerprint" is visible precisely in those who regularly use tanning beds, confirming that the problem is not only in sporadic exposure, but in the cumulative effect of artificial UV radiation.

Mutations that cannot be erased

One of the main messages of the study is brutally simple: mutations, once created, cannot be turned back. Cells have sophisticated DNA repair mechanisms, but they are not perfect. Every uncorrected "typo" remains permanently written in the genome and is passed on to new generations of cells during every division.

As life goes on, the number of mutations in the skin naturally increases due to cumulative exposure to the sun and other environmental influences. But for tanning bed users, this process accelerates dramatically. New research shows that in certain parts of the skin of people in their thirties, levels of damage are already present that we would otherwise expect only in late old age. This means that the skin of these people is actually in a "pre-tumor" state much earlier than we would assume based on age alone.

Scientists emphasize that the key to prevention is therefore limiting the number of new mutations that will accumulate over a lifetime. One of the most effective ways to do this is to completely avoid artificial sources of UV radiation like tanning beds. It is difficult to completely shun the natural sun, especially in countries with many sunny days, but a tanning bed is a choice – and a choice that, as genetics shows, carries too high a price.

Melanoma: a small share of skin cancers, but the majority of deaths

Skin cancer is by far the most common form of cancer in the United States and many other Western countries. Most of these tumors are basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, which generally have a good prognosis when detected on time. Melanoma accounts for only about one percent of all skin cancers, but is responsible for the vast majority of deaths because it spreads aggressively to lymph nodes and distant organs.

According to the latest estimates from the American Cancer Society, about 105,000 new cases of melanoma are expected to be diagnosed in the US in 2025, and it is estimated that more than 8,000 people will die from this disease. The number of new cases continues to rise, especially among the older population, while mortality is declining thanks to modern therapies such as immunotherapy and targeted drugs. But treating advanced melanoma is extremely expensive, long-lasting, and accompanied by numerous side effects, so experts constantly emphasize that prevention – specifically reducing exposure to UV radiation – is a far better strategy.

Melanoma can appear on skin that seemingly looks normal, without a recognizable mole, but also in an existing mole that changes shape, color, or size. In the context of tanning beds, it is particularly worrying that tumors often develop on parts of the body that are otherwise protected from natural sun, but are completely exposed to artificial lamps – for example, on the buttocks, lower back, or chest in people who tan in underwear or swimwear.

Who uses tanning beds the most – and why young women are particularly at risk

Data from a series of epidemiological studies show that the biggest users of tanning beds are adolescent girls and young women in their twenties and early thirties. In many countries, this exact group forms the backbone of the artificial tanning industry's clientele. The reasons are a combination of social trends, an idealized "summer tan" as a symbol of health and attractiveness, and aggressive advertising that minimizes or ignores health risks.

At the same time, medical data show that using a tanning bed before the age of 35 increases the risk of melanoma by approximately 75%, and the risk increases further with the number of sessions. In other words, every visit to a tanning bed adds another layer of risk. For people who expose themselves regularly, this risk multiplies, especially if additional factors are present – fair complexion, blonde or red hair, tendency to burn, a large number of moles, or a positive family history of melanoma.

The psychological aspect is also important. Many young people underestimate long-term health consequences and focus on the short-term aesthetic effect. In practice, this means that decisions are made based on the desire for a "good look" before summer, graduation, a wedding, or photos for social networks, and not based on an understanding of the biological processes happening beneath the skin's surface. New research, which directly shows how the skin of tanning bed users genetically ages decades faster, is a strong argument for changing this way of thinking.

World institutions: tanning beds are carcinogenic like tobacco and asbestos

Health institutions have been warning about the dangers of artificial UV radiation for years. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization (WHO), classified UV radiation from tanning beds and similar devices as "carcinogenic to humans" back in 2009 – the highest risk category, which also includes tobacco smoke and asbestos. In other words, this is a source of radiation for which there is a solid scientific consensus that it causes skin cancer.

As a response to this evidence, many countries have introduced strict regulations. Brazil and Australia have gone the furthest and practically banned commercial tanning beds for the entire population. In Europe, the situation is more diverse, but roughly half of the states have introduced a total ban on tanning bed use for minors, while others have partial restrictions, mandatory warnings, or strict standards for device operation. Despite this, the supply of tanning beds still exists, and in some countries, they are still very popular.

The disproportion between scientific evidence and public perception remains particularly problematic. And while experts have been saying for years that there is no "safe tanning" in a UV tanning bed, advertisements often suggest the opposite – highlighting "controlled" radiation, "professional maintenance of devices," and various marketing slogans that create the impression that it is a harmless service. In light of the new research, which unequivocally shows an extremely high burden of mutations in the skin of tanning bed users, there are increasing calls for the legal framework to be further tightened.

Tanning beds and natural sun: different sources, similar risk

It is important to emphasize that danger does not come only from tanning beds. Natural sun remains the main source of UV radiation to which most people are chronically exposed. But while being outdoors brings other benefits – for example, vitamin D synthesis and a positive effect on mental health – time spent in a tanning bed has no physiological benefit. We get only a temporary change in skin color, with a very real risk of permanent genetic damage.

New research further highlights a key difference: while natural sun exposure often varies and is limited by weather conditions, in a tanning bed we receive an intense dose of UV rays in a short, predefined interval. In practice, this means a "shock dose" for the skin, the effect of which accumulates with every subsequent session. Genetic analyses show that this pattern of damage leaves a recognizable "signature" in melanocytes – pigment cells of the skin – which differs from that which arises solely due to natural sun.

What does "genetically older" skin mean in everyday life?

It may seem abstract to talk about thousands of mutations in individual skin cells, but in practice, this has very concrete consequences. The skin is an organ that constantly protects us from the outside world – from microorganisms, chemicals, and radiation. The more genetic damage there is in cells, the greater the likelihood that clusters of cells will appear that behave uncontrollably, divide too quickly, and evade the immune system's surveillance.

"Genetically older" skin means that processes which normally accompany deep old age – weakened DNA repair, accumulation of mutations, increased susceptibility to tumors – shift decades forward. This does not mean that every tanning bed user will necessarily develop melanoma, but it means they enter age-risk levels much earlier. In combination with other factors (hereditary tendency, fair skin, previous sunburns), this often results in melanoma diagnoses in the twenties, thirties, or forties, whereas without the additional UV burden, the risk would be significantly lower.

Prevention: what specifically we can do

The message of the new research is clear and very practical: if we want to reduce the risk of melanoma and other skin cancers, one of the simplest steps is to completely eliminate tanning beds from our routine. Unlike many other risk factors we cannot influence (genetics, age, skin type), going to a tanning bed is always a conscious decision.

Skin experts recommend several key habits:

• Avoid artificial UV radiation. There is no "healthy" or "safe" tanning bed. Every session adds new mutations to skin cells.


• Limit natural sun exposure. Avoid the strongest sun (approximately between 10 am and 4 pm), especially in summer.


• Use sun protection. Creams with a sun protection factor (SPF 30 or higher), protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses reduce the total UV dose.


• Regularly check your skin. Pay attention to new changes or moles that change color, size, or shape. If you notice something suspicious, seek the advice of a dermatologist.


• Special caution for children and adolescents. Exposing skin to UV radiation in childhood and adolescence is particularly dangerous because the skin is still developing its defense mechanisms, and mutations formed at an early age stay with us all our lives.

For people to whom the appearance of a tan is important, experts often recommend self-tanners without UV radiation (lotions, sprays, and similar products). These products also have their pros and cons, but they do not damage melanocyte DNA in the way tanning beds do. It is crucial to become aware that there is no aesthetic reason that justifies consciously increasing the risk of a disease that can be fatal, but even when curable, leaves severe physical, psychological, and financial consequences.

Final message: skin cancer begins long before the first visible spot

New research from UCSF and Northwestern University gives unique insight into what happens beneath the skin's surface: while we observe an even tan in the mirror, genetic changes are piling up in cells that can be the first step toward melanoma. The skin of tanning bed users in their thirties already carries a mutational burden that we would expect only decades later, and many of these mutations are associated precisely with the development of aggressive tumors.

Mutations cannot be erased, but it can be prevented that even more are created. Precisely here lies the power of informed decisions: giving up tanning beds, responsible behavior in the sun, and regular skin checks are simple steps that can mean the difference in the long run between early detection of a curable tumor and a late diagnosis of a life-threatening disease. New scientific findings give us an additional, strong argument to oppose the pressure of aesthetic ideals with facts about skin genetics – and our own health.