Dangers of Tanning Beds

The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies UV tanning beds in the highest cancer risk category  "Carcinogenic to Humans." (1)

Whether you get a tan outside or in a tanning bed, you are exposing your skin to damaging UV radiation (UVR). Too much UVR causes skin cancer.

Tanning is your skin's natural defense against damaging UVR from the sun and tanning beds. Your skin darkens to try to block the rays from reaching the deeper layers of your skin. The tanner you are, the more damage you are doing to your skin! 

Just one indoor tanning session increases a person’s chances of developing melanoma by 20 percent. (2)

Using a tanning bed before age 35 increase a person’s risk for melanoma by 75 percent. (3)

Tanning also causes:

  • Premature aging of the skin 
  • Redness, blotches, or yellowing of the skin
  • Leathery skin, wrinkles and sagging skin
  • Freckles, age spots and liver spots
  • A weakened immune system

Twin has excess UV exposure.         Twin has minimal UV exposure.

 

Learn about safer ways to look tan.

 

Tanning Myths Debunked

  • Indoor tanning is not safer than tanning in the sun. Both indoor tanning and tanning outside can cause skin cancer. 
  • A base tan is not a safe tan. Any darkening of the skin is causing damage to skin cells, which can lead to skin cancer.
  • Indoor tanning is not a good way to get vitamin D. Eat a diet rich in vitamin D (milk, eggs, fish) and taking a daily supplement if needed. See our brochure on vitamin D.

 

Take the Sun Safe Pledge today!

 

Read a success story about the "The Indoor Tan-Free Skin Smart Campus" initiative supported by the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention.

 

More resources on tanning 

For more information on indoor tanning, visit:

http://www.aad.org/media-resources/stats-and-facts/prevention-and-care/indoor-tanning

For the latest information on state laws for indoor tanning, visit:

https://www.aimatmelanoma.org/legislation-policy-advocacy/indoor-tanning

 

References

  1. El Ghissassi F, Baan R, Straif K, et al. Special report: policy. A review of human carcinogens—part D: radiation. The Lancet 2009; 10(8):751-752.​ http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/iarcnews/2009/sunbeds_uvradiation.php
  2. Boniol M, Autier P, Boyle P, Gandini S. Cutaneous melanoma attributable to sunbed use: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2012; 345:e4757. doi: 10.1136/bmj.e4757 
  3. Lazovich D, Vogel RI, Berwick M, Weinstock MA, Anderson KE, Warshaw EM. Indoor tanning and risk of melanoma: a case-control study in a highly-exposed population. Cancer Epidem Biomar Prev 2010 June; 19(6):1557-1568.