Tanning beds triple melanoma risk, potentially causing broad DNA damage
a day ago
- #tanning-beds
- #melanoma
- #DNA-damage
- Tanning beds increase melanoma risk nearly threefold.
- Study shows tanning beds cause DNA damage across almost the entire skin surface.
- Melanoma was diagnosed in 5.1% of tanning bed users vs. 2.1% of non-users.
- Tanning bed users had double the mutation burden compared to controls.
- Mutations appeared in sun-shielded areas, indicating broader DNA injury.
- Indoor tanning should be illegal for minors, suggests study author.
- Tanning beds should carry warnings similar to cigarettes.
- Heidi Tarr, a melanoma survivor, donated biopsies to support the study.