The Dangers of Tanning Beds: Five Fast Facts

5. Indoor tanning may actually be more dangerous than the sun

Traditional tanning beds and sun lamps typically give off about three times the UVA rays that are emitted by the sun. New, high-pressure sunlamps emit doses of both UVA and UVB rays that can be as much as 15 times that of the sun. A U.K. study found that human skin cells exposed to tanning beds in a laboratory sustained severe DNA damage of the type that is associated with skin cancer development [11]. Tanning beds are also proven to cause sunburns, and just one sunburn doubles your risk of developing skin cancer.

Tanning salons claim that tanning is necessary to obtain sufficient quantities of vitamin D. In fact, it takes far less UV light to obtain the necessary amount of vitamin D than it does to get a suntan.

BOTTOM LINE: Beware of tanning beds! Pretty much every scientifically accepted study shows the strong association of tanning beds with skin cancer [12].

[1] Whitmore SE, Morison, WL, Potten CS, Chadwick C. Tanning salon exposure and molecular alterations. J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;44:775-80.

[2] Swerdlow AJ, Weinstock MA. Do tanning lamps cause melanoma? An epidemiologic assessment. J Am Acad Dermatol 1998;38:89-98.

[3] Dellavalle RP, Parker ER, Ceronsky N, Hester EJ, Hemme B, Burkhardt DL, et al. Youth access laws: in the dark at the tanning parlor? Arch Dermatol 2003;139:443-8.

[4] Demierre MF. Time for the national legislation of indoor tanning to protect minors. Arch Dermatol 2003;139:520-4.

[5] Kwon HT, Mayer JA, Walker KK, Yu H, Lewis EC, Belch GE. Promotion of frequent tanning sessions by indoor tanning facilities: two studies. J Am Acad Dermatol 2003;46:700-5.

[6] Westerdahl J, Ingvar C, MasbackA. Jonsson N, Olsson H. Risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma in relation to use of sunbeds: further evidence for UV-A carcinogenicity. Br J Cancer 2000;82:1593-9.

[7] Francis SO, Burkhardt DL, Dellavalle RP. 2005: A banner year for new US youth access tanning restrictions. Arch Dermatol 2005;141:524-5

[8] Gandini S, et al. "Meta-analysis of risk factors for cutaneous melanoma: 11. Sun exposure. Euro. J Cancer. 2005 January; 41(1):45-60.

[9] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Toxicology Program. Report on carcinogens, 11th ed: Exposure to sunlamps or sunbeds.

[10] Karagas M, et al. Use of tanning devices and risk of basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers." J Natl Cancer Inst. 2002 February 6;94(3):224-6

[11] (Woollons, Clingen, Price, Arlett, & Green, 1997)

[12] The International Agency for Research on Cancer Working Group on artificial ultraviolet (UV) light and skin cancer "The association of use of sunbeds with cutaneous malignant melanoma and other skin cancers: A systematic review." Int. J Cancer: 2007 March 1;120:1116-22.