Tanning is getting hot again. Here’s what it really does to your skin

Nichole Sims, who began using a tanning bed at 15, found herself diagnosed with melanoma a decade later. Her experience mirrors a growing trend among young people, who have seen tanning become increasingly popular on social media. Sims aims to dispel the notion that tanning is beneficial by sharing her story online.

Experts warn that this resurgence in tanning popularity could have dire consequences. A video of a young woman sharing tanning tips, complete with a bikini tan line, has garnered over 11 million views, with commenters joking about the earth's eventual demise. The American Cancer Society predicts more than 100,000 new melanomas will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2026, with around 8,500 fatalities expected from melanoma.

Research from Northwestern University's medical school reveals that tanning bed users face a significantly higher risk of developing melanoma. Dr. Pedram Gerami's team discovered that melanocytes, skin cells capable of turning into moles, melanoma, or other cancers, exhibit a mutated DNA sequence when exposed to UV light from tanning beds.

This mutation rate is more than double that of non-users, who only experience UV exposure from outdoor sunlight. Gerami explained that only two or three DNA mutations, when present in the right location, can lead to melanoma. Even a single or two mutations acquired through tanning bed use can prime cells, making them more susceptible to melanoma development.

Moreover, a 2025 survey conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology reveals that Gen Z adults are more likely to be uninformed about sun protection and susceptible to misconceptions about tanning. Nearly one-fifth of young adults prioritized getting a tan over protecting their skin, while more than half believed in common myths, such as the idea that a "base tan" offers protection against sunburn.