A new study conducted by researchers at Northwestern University shows that artificial tanning in tanning beds causes DNA mutations and increases the risk of skin cancer by nearly three times.

People who use tanning beds have nearly three times the risk of developing melanoma compared to those who do not tan artificially. The study analyzed the medical records of approximately 3,000 tanning bed users, finding that 5% of them were diagnosed with melanoma, compared to 2% in the control group. Researchers also discovered that the melanocytes of tanning bed users had nearly twice as many DNA mutations as those of individuals who did not use tanning beds. These mutations were observed even in areas of the body that were less exposed to the sun, supporting the link between artificial exposure to ultraviolet radiation and the increased risk of cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies tanning as having the highest oncological risk, similar to smoking. Currently, the use of tanning beds is banned in certain countries, and the authors of the study recommend limiting minors' access to these devices and closely monitoring the skin of frequent users.