What teens and parents should know as tanning gets hot again

Key Points:

• Nichole Sims began using tanning beds at 15 due to social pressure and was diagnosed with melanoma eight years later; she now works to counter social media misinformation promoting tanning as healthy or necessary for beauty.
• Experts warn of a tanning resurgence among young adults fueled by social media, with some influencers encouraging tanning bed use despite the increased melanoma risk linked to UV exposure from tanning beds.
• Research shows tanning bed users have nearly three times the melanoma risk, with DNA mutations in skin cells caused by UV light exposure from tanning beds being more than double those exposed only to natural sunlight.
• A 2025 survey reveals many Gen Z adults hold misconceptions about tanning and sun protection, often prioritizing tanning over skin safety and believing myths like "base tans" prevent sunburn.
• Although the WHO classifies tanning beds as carcinogenic, and some states restrict minor access, the FDA recently withdrew a proposed nationwide ban on tanning bed use for under-18s, raising concerns about mixed public health messages.