New research has unveiled that indoor tanning, a popular practice among many young adults, accelerates skin aging at a genetic level, potentially sowing the seeds for future cancers, including the lethal melanoma. The study, conducted by researchers from UC San Francisco and Northwestern University, was published in the December 12 issue of Science Advances.
While it is well-documented that users of tanning beds face an elevated risk of skin cancer, this study is the first to reveal that young indoor tanners experience genetic changes leading to more mutations in their skin cells compared to individuals twice their age. “We found that tanning bed users in their 30s and 40s had even more mutations than people in the general population who were in their 70s and 80s,” explained Bishal Tandukar, PhD, a UCSF postdoctoral scholar in Dermatology and co-first author of the study. “In other words, the skin of tanning bed users appeared decades older at the genetic level.”
Understanding the Genetic Impact of Tanning
The implications of these findings are significant, considering that skin cancer is the most prevalent cancer in the United States, as noted by the American Cancer Society. Among the various types of skin cancer, melanoma is particularly deadly, accounting for only about 1% of cases but responsible for the majority of skin cancer deaths. Approximately 11,000 Americans succumb to melanoma each year, primarily due to ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure.
UV radiation is present in natural sunlight and artificial sources like tanning beds. The rise in melanoma cases has paralleled the increased use of tanning beds, disproportionately affecting young women, who make up the majority of the tanning industry’s clientele.
Global and National Perspectives on Tanning Beds
Despite the mounting evidence against them, tanning beds remain legal and popular in the United States. This is in stark contrast to numerous countries that have effectively banned their use. The World Health Organization classifies tanning beds as a Group 1 carcinogen, placing them in the same category as tobacco smoke and asbestos.
The study’s authors examined medical records from over 32,000 dermatology patients, analyzing their tanning bed usage, history of sunburn, and family history of melanoma. They also sequenced 182 cells from skin samples obtained from 26 donors. The results were alarming: young tanning bed users exhibited more skin mutations than older individuals, particularly in areas like the lower back, which receive minimal sunlight exposure but significant exposure from tanning beds.
“The skin of tanning bed users was riddled with the seeds of cancer — cells with mutations known to lead to melanoma,” stated senior author A. Hunter Shain, PhD, associate professor in the UCSF Department of Dermatology.
Expert Opinions and Recommendations
Experts emphasize the importance of minimizing UV radiation exposure to prevent these genetic mutations. “We cannot reverse a mutation once it occurs, so it is essential to limit how many mutations accumulate in the first place,” said Shain, whose research focuses on the biology of skin cancer. “One of the simplest ways to do that is to avoid exposure to artificial UV radiation.”
The study highlights the urgent need for public health initiatives to address the risks associated with tanning beds. Increased awareness and stricter regulations could potentially reduce the incidence of skin cancer, particularly among young adults.
Research Contributors and Funding
The study was a collaborative effort involving numerous researchers from UCSF, including Delahny Deivendran, Limin Chen, PhD, Jessica Tang, PhD, Tuyet Tan, Harsh Sharma, PhD, Aravind K. Bandari, PhD, Noel Cruz-Pacheco, MS, Darwin Chang, Annika L. Marty, MS, Adam Olshen, PhD, Natalia Faraj Murad, PhD, and Iwei Yeh, MD, PhD. Co-first author Pedram Gerami, MD, is affiliated with Northwestern University, Chicago.
Funding for the research was provided by the National Cancer Institute (R01 CA265786), the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (AR080626), the Department of Defense Melanoma Research Program (ME210014), and the Melanoma Research Alliance. Additional funders are acknowledged in the published paper. No conflicts of interest were reported.
Implications and Future Directions
As the debate over the safety of tanning beds continues, this study adds a critical perspective on their long-term genetic impact. The findings underscore the need for more stringent regulations and public education campaigns to mitigate the risks associated with artificial UV exposure.
Moving forward, further research is necessary to explore potential interventions that could reverse or mitigate the genetic damage caused by tanning beds. Until then, experts advise individuals, particularly young adults, to avoid tanning beds and prioritize skin protection to reduce the risk of skin cancer.
