Particle.news
Download on the App Store
6 ARTICLES
·
last wk.

Indoor Tanning Tied to Nearly Triple Melanoma Risk as Study Maps Skin-Wide DNA Damage

Single-cell analysis reveals heavy mutation loads in typically covered skin areas, prompting calls for tighter regulation.

A new study shows tanning beds cause irreversible genetic changes in skin cells, helping explain why young users face higher melanoma risk.
Image
Image
Tanning beds are making a comeback but medical experts are concerned

Overview

  • Reviewing medical records for roughly 3,000 tanning bed users versus about 3,000 non-users, researchers found melanoma in 5.1% versus 2.1%, an adjusted 2.85-fold risk increase.
  • Single-cell DNA sequencing of 182 melanocytes showed nearly twice as many mutations in indoor tanners, including changes associated with melanoma.
  • Mutations and cancers were more common on body sites that rarely see sunlight, such as the lower back and buttocks, indicating broad field DNA damage.
  • The peer-reviewed findings, led by Northwestern Medicine and UCSF, were published Dec. 12 in Science Advances.
  • Lead author Dr. Pedram Gerami urges bans for minors, cigarette-style warnings on tanning devices, and dermatologic screening for former frequent users.