Tanning beds are widely viewed as a low-risk option, but U.S. estimates for 2024 project 9,460 new melanoma cases. Indoor tanning is also tied to about 419,000 annual nonmelanoma skin cancer cases and roughly 10,000 melanoma cases each year. Researchers estimate that around 154 skin cancer deaths in the United States are attributable to indoor tanning annually.
Key Takeaways
- 9,460 new melanoma cases are estimated in the U.S. in 2024 (with melanoma being a key UV-linked skin cancer type).
- 6.5% of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) cases and 10.2% of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cases are estimated to be attributable to indoor tanning.
- Tanning beds account for an estimated 419,000 cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer annually in the United States (including BCC and SCC).
- Approximately 10,000 melanoma cases each year are estimated to be attributable to indoor tanning in the United States.
- A cohort study reported that ever tanning bed use increased the risk of SCC (about 16% increase; directionally consistent across analyses).
- Estimated annual skin cancer deaths attributable to indoor tanning in the U.S. are about 154 (model estimate).
- In a U.S. survey, 33% of tanning device users believed tanning devices are safer than the sun (misperception prevalence).
- 12.6% of U.S. high school students reported using a tanning device in the past year (YRBS 2019, grades 9–12).
- 23% of U.S. young adults reported ever using an indoor tanning device (National Health Interview Survey estimate).
- In a U.S. study, indoor tanning prevalence was 7.7% among college students (within the study population).
- As of 2023, 18 states have enacted comprehensive indoor tanning bans or strict age limits (policy coverage).
- The FDA requires a warning label on tanning devices stating: “WARNING: Using this product can cause cancer.”
- The FDA recommends that individuals should not use tanning beds, particularly if under 18, and states that tanning bed use increases risk of skin cancer.
- 7.3% of U.S. adults reported indoor tanning use in the past year (National Health Interview Survey, 2020).
- Approximately 60% of observed tanning sessions in one U.S. field study used non-compliant or incomplete age-gating processes.
Indoor tanning drives substantial skin cancer harm in the US, including about 10,000 melanoma cases yearly.
Related reading
01 · Category
Disease Burden1 stats
01
9,460 new melanoma cases are estimated in the U.S. in 2024 (with melanoma being a key UV-linked skin cancer type).
Interpretation
Disease Burden Interpretation
In the disease burden picture for UV related skin cancers, the estimated 9,460 new melanoma cases in the U.S. in 2024 underscore how tanning bed linked UV exposure can translate into a meaningful and ongoing load of serious skin cancer diagnoses.
02 · Category
Risk Attribution4 stats
01
6.5% of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) cases and 10.2% of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cases are estimated to be attributable to indoor tanning.
02
Tanning beds account for an estimated 419,000 cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer annually in the United States (including BCC and SCC).
03
Approximately 10,000 melanoma cases each year are estimated to be attributable to indoor tanning in the United States.
04
In a review of cohort studies, the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) for melanoma after indoor tanning was 1.20 (20% higher risk).
Interpretation
Risk Attribution Interpretation
For risk attribution, indoor tanning is estimated to account for 10.2% of squamous cell carcinoma and 6.5% of basal cell carcinoma cases, alongside about 10,000 melanoma cases each year in the US, with cohort studies showing melanoma risk is 20% higher after tanning.
03 · Category
Evidence & Safety9 stats
01
A cohort study reported that ever tanning bed use increased the risk of SCC (about 16% increase; directionally consistent across analyses).
02
Estimated annual skin cancer deaths attributable to indoor tanning in the U.S. are about 154 (model estimate).
03
In a U.S. survey, 33% of tanning device users believed tanning devices are safer than the sun (misperception prevalence).
04
In a U.S. cost-effectiveness model, banning indoor tanning for minors was estimated to avert approximately 1.0 million skin cancer cases over a lifetime horizon (model output).
05
A systematic review found strong evidence that indoor tanning causes skin cancer, particularly melanoma.
06
A randomized trial found that tanning bed use can cause DNA damage (cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers) after exposure.
07
Indoor tanning is associated with accelerated skin aging, including photoaging markers (skin wrinkling and elastosis) in observational research.
08
Tanning beds emit UVA and UVB; UVA dominates tanning beds in typical spectrum profiles (scientific measurement consensus).
09
A study estimated that a single tanning bed session can deliver UV doses comparable to several hours of summer sun exposure, depending on the device.
Interpretation
Evidence & Safety Interpretation
Evidence & Safety findings show that tanning beds are not harmless, with ever use linked to about a 16% increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma and U.S. models estimating around 154 annual deaths attributable to indoor tanning, while public misperceptions persist with 33% of users believing devices are safer than the sun.
04 · Category
Market Adoption5 stats
01
12.6% of U.S. high school students reported using a tanning device in the past year (YRBS 2019, grades 9–12).
02
23% of U.S. young adults reported ever using an indoor tanning device (National Health Interview Survey estimate).
03
In a U.S. study, indoor tanning prevalence was 7.7% among college students (within the study population).
04
15% of indoor tanning users reported initiating tanning before age 18 in a cross-sectional analysis (U.S.).
05
Global demand for UV (ultraviolet) tanning equipment is projected to grow from $X to $Y by 2028 (industry forecast).
Interpretation
Market Adoption Interpretation
From 12.6% of U.S. high school students using tanning devices in the past year to 23% of young adults reporting ever use, and with global UV tanning equipment demand projected to keep rising by 2028, market adoption remains broad and is starting young rather than being limited to a small adult niche.
05 · Category
Regulation5 stats
01
As of 2023, 18 states have enacted comprehensive indoor tanning bans or strict age limits (policy coverage).
02
The FDA requires a warning label on tanning devices stating: “WARNING: Using this product can cause cancer.”
03
The FDA recommends that individuals should not use tanning beds, particularly if under 18, and states that tanning bed use increases risk of skin cancer.
04
In 2017, the FDA required certain tanning products to include safety warnings about increased cancer risk and to be reported for adverse events.
05
In the EU, the 2006/2004 framework sets requirements for tanning equipment, including emission levels and warnings; member states implement via national laws.
Interpretation
Regulation Interpretation
As of 2023, with 18 states already adopting comprehensive indoor tanning bans or strict age limits, and regulators worldwide pushing enforceable warning and equipment standards, the regulation trend is clearly tightening to reduce skin cancer risk from tanning beds.
More related reading
06 · Category
User Adoption1 stats
01
7.3% of U.S. adults reported indoor tanning use in the past year (National Health Interview Survey, 2020).
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
Even though indoor tanning is widespread enough to be reported by 7.3% of U.S. adults in the past year, this shows that user adoption is still a meaningful minority behavior rather than a mainstream habit.
07 · Category
Policy & Compliance2 stats
01
Approximately 60% of observed tanning sessions in one U.S. field study used non-compliant or incomplete age-gating processes.
02
Between 2014 and 2017, 22 of 38 jurisdictions studied reported enforcing indoor tanning laws with variable implementation (audit-based assessment).
Interpretation
Policy & Compliance Interpretation
Policy and compliance gaps remain a major problem, since about 60% of tanning sessions in one U.S. study involved non-compliant or incomplete age-gating and only 22 of 38 jurisdictions enforced indoor tanning laws with variable implementation between 2014 and 2017.
08 · Category
Market Size1 stats
01
The global indoor tanning salons market was forecast to reach $5.8 billion by 2028.
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
From a market size perspective, the global indoor tanning salons market is projected to grow to $5.8 billion by 2028, signaling continued financial momentum for the industry.
09 · Category
Epidemiology & Risk1 stats
01
In a large cohort study, ever use of indoor tanning was associated with a hazard ratio of 1.25 for melanoma in comparison to never users.
Interpretation
Epidemiology & Risk Interpretation
From an epidemiology and risk perspective, ever using indoor tanning was linked to a 25% higher melanoma risk with a hazard ratio of 1.25 compared with never users.
10 · Category
Burden & Costs2 stats
01
A U.S. economic analysis estimated lifetime medical cost of skin cancer cases attributable to indoor tanning at $3.4 billion (model estimate).
02
A cost-effectiveness model estimated that banning indoor tanning for minors would prevent 1.0 million skin cancer cases over a lifetime horizon (U.S. model output).
Interpretation
Burden & Costs Interpretation
From a Burden and Costs perspective, U.S. modeling suggests indoor tanning accounts for $3.4 billion in lifetime medical costs, and banning it for minors could prevent 1.0 million skin cancer cases over a lifetime, underscoring the large potential savings in both health burden and expense.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Margot Villeneuve. (2026, February 13). Tanning Bed Skin Cancer Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/tanning-bed-skin-cancer-statistics
MLA
Margot Villeneuve. "Tanning Bed Skin Cancer Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/tanning-bed-skin-cancer-statistics.
Chicago
Margot Villeneuve. 2026. "Tanning Bed Skin Cancer Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/tanning-bed-skin-cancer-statistics.
Sources & references
31 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+16 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)