Tanning beds have long been popular for achieving a sun-kissed glow, but mounting evidence links indoor tanning usage to less glamorous consequences like wrinkles and skin cancer. The World Health Organization considers tanning beds to be carcinogens alongside hazards like asbestos or cigarette smoke; despite this, estimates suggest that millions of people, especially young women, continue to use them.
Because sunbed usage coincides with an increased incidence of melanoma, dermatologist Pedram Gerami from Northwestern Medicine sought to elucidate their molecular effects on skin cells. In a recent study, published in Science Advances, Gerami and his colleagues found that between tanning bed users and nonusers, those who tanned were more likely to have multiple melanomas on areas of the body with low amounts of sun damage.
Molecular analysis revealed that their skin cells harbored more pathogenic mutations, which may elevate melanoma risk. These findings highlight how tanning beds can affect skin cells differently than those who are exposed to natural, outdoor lighting.
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