Trigger for the Development of Aggressive Skin Cancer Identified 0 8

Artificial tanning may harm the skin more than sunlight: this conclusion was reached by scientists at Northwestern University in the United States. The study showed that visiting tanning salons nearly triples the risk of melanoma and causes characteristic DNA mutations across the skin's surface — even in areas without moles. The work was published in Science Advances (Sci Adv).

Analyzing data from more than 32,000 patients, researchers found that melanoma developed in 5.1 percent of people with a history of tanning bed use compared to 2.1 percent in the control group. Even after accounting for age, sex, sunburns, and family history, the risk remained 2.85 times higher. Genetic analysis of skin cells confirmed that tanning bed enthusiasts had nearly twice as many cancer-related mutations.

Particular attention was drawn to the fact that people aged 30–40 who regularly used tanning beds had skin that appeared "older" at the genetic level than many people aged 70–80 without such experience. Moreover, dangerous mutations were found in areas of the body usually shielded from the sun, indicating a particularly broad and aggressive impact of artificial ultraviolet light.

The authors emphasize that the accumulated mutations are irreversible, and tanning beds have already been classified by the WHO as group one carcinogens — on par with tobacco and asbestos. Scientists are calling for stricter regulations and at least a complete ban on artificial tanning for minors.