Tanning beds make young skin genetically old

Ultraviolet radiation, which is used in tanning beds, damages the DNA of skin cells and triggers the accumulation of mutations. The changes are considered the so—called seeds of skin cancer, including melanoma, one of the most dangerous types of cancer. Despite the fact that melanoma accounts for only a small proportion of all skin cancers, it is most often fatal.

As part of the study, the researchers analyzed the medical data of more than 32,000 dermatological patients, including information on the use of tanning beds, sunburn and family history of melanoma. Additionally, skin samples from 26 donors were studied, in which more than 180 individual cells were sequenced.

A particularly high level of mutations was found in the area of the lower back, an area that is rarely exposed to sunlight, but is actively irradiated in tanning salons. It has been confirmed that the source of damage is artificial ultraviolet radiation, and not the natural sun.

Scientists emphasize that the mutations that have arisen cannot be reversed. Therefore, the main strategy for protecting the skin is prevention — limiting or completely eliminating artificial ultraviolet radiation. According to the authors, tanning beds pose a serious threat to skin health, especially for young people, and their impact on aging and cancer risk is significantly underestimated.