Tanning beds and skin cancer: what CDC says about the risk

This page is for anyone who uses, or has used, tanning beds. It explains what the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) says about the risk and how to protect your skin now.

The federal position on tanning beds does not hold back. CDC says indoor tanning — using a tanning bed or booth to darken skin — exposes users to intense levels of UV rays, a known cause of cancer.

CDC also says UV rays can damage skin cells. Over time, that damage adds up and can sometimes lead to skin cancer. CDC says too much UV exposure from the sun or tanning beds causes most skin cancers.

CDC's prevention advice is direct too: avoid indoor tanning entirely.

You may want a specific number — how many times higher the risk gets. CDC's prevention guidance does not give one. Making up a number would be worse than leaving it out.

What it gives instead is a clear chain of facts. UV radiation is a known cause of cancer. Tanning beds deliver intense UV. Built-up UV exposure causes skin cancer. There is no version of that chain where a tanning bed comes out looking safe.

One belief deserves special attention, because it sounds sensible and lots of people believe it: the idea that a pre-vacation tan protects your skin.

CDC's answer is short. A base tan is actually a sign of skin damage.

CDC says a visible change in skin color after UV exposure is a sign of injury to the skin. Tanning is not your skin building armor. A base tan means damage has already happened.

A tan is proof of harm, not a shield against it.

CDC lists traits that raise skin cancer risk:

• A lighter natural skin color.
• Skin that burns, freckles, reddens easily, or hurts in the sun.
• Blue or green eyes.
• Blond or red hair.
• Certain types of moles, or a large number of moles.
• A history of sunburns or tanning.
• A family history of skin cancer.
• A personal history of skin cancer.
• Older age.

Notice that a history of tanning sits right alongside traits you were simply born with. Past habits are part of the picture. That is a reason to bring up your history with a doctor, not a reason to feel guilty.

When the UV Index hits 3 or higher, CDC recommends:

• Staying in shaded spots.
• Wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants.
• Wearing a wide-brimmed hat that shades your face, head, ears, and neck.
• Wearing wraparound sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays.
• Putting broad-spectrum sunscreen, SPF 15 or higher, on exposed skin — including your ears and the back of your neck.

Clothing and shade come first on that list, and that order matters. Sunscreen is part of the answer, not the whole answer.

Past use cannot be undone. CDC's message is about cutting future exposure, not blaming anyone for the past.

The practical steps are simple:

• Stop adding to your total UV exposure.
• Protect your skin regularly.
• Notice what your own skin normally looks like, so changes stand out.

Knowing roughly how your skin normally looks makes a new change easier to notice.

CDC says a change in your skin is the most common sign of skin cancer. This could be a new growth, a sore that does not heal, or a change in a mole. CDC advises talking to your doctor if you notice changes in your skin.

Two things on CDC's risk list are good reasons to mention skin changes sooner, instead of watching them for months:

• A personal or family history of skin cancer.
• A large number of moles.