Skin Cancer Risk May Significantly Decrease After Quitting Sunbeds, Experts Say

The risk of developing melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, may significantly decrease within three to four years of stopping sunbed use, according to dermatologists. While the risk may not return to zero, it can become close to that of individuals who have never used tanning beds or been exposed to excessive sun.

This potential for natural repair means that not everyone who has used sunbeds will inevitably develop melanoma. "It's the same with sunbeds," explained Dr. Christopher Rowland Payne, a consultant dermatologist at The London Clinic. "The sooner you stop, every day that passes after that your risks reduce."

Repeated exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunbeds or the sun damages skin cells. However, the skin has a notable capacity to repair itself once this excessive UV exposure is reduced. Provided there is no further burning, the risk of melanoma may fall considerably after a few years.

This applies even to individuals who used sunbeds regularly for decades or were once keen sunbathers. "It would never quite go back to the zero risk of someone who has never sunbathed or used a sunbed, but it would get pretty close," Dr. Rowland Payne stated.

However, he cautioned that this does not mean all previous damage disappears entirely. Other forms of skin damage, including more common non-melanoma skin cancers like basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, can take longer to develop and may remain linked to UV exposure for many years. Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare but aggressive cancer, can also result from excessive UV exposure.

Those most at risk are individuals who repeatedly expose themselves to UV radiation, particularly those who tan and burn. Even if someone can tan, believing their skin is protected, burning indicates that UV radiation is still causing damage. Having a large number of moles also increases risk, as UV exposure can stimulate them, raising the chance of developing melanoma.

Studies indicate a strong link between early-life sun exposure and later melanoma risk. Research published in the British Medical Journal in 2012 found that starting sunbed use before age 35 increased melanoma risk by 87%. A large Norwegian study noted that women who began using sunbeds before age 30 had approximately a third higher risk of melanoma. Melanoma UK reports that the risk rises by up to 20% for each decade of sunbed use.

Sunbeds are considered particularly harmful because they emit UV rays that are significantly stronger than average sunlight. These intense UV rays penetrate the skin, damaging DNA in cells and, with repeated use, can lead to mutations that cause cancer. Research suggests that nearly two in five adults are unaware of the risks associated with sunbeds.

Chelsea Tantum, 30, died from advanced melanoma after using sunbeds since she was 15. She was diagnosed with stage 3C melanoma at 28, which progressed to stage 4 before she turned 30. 

While melanoma risk can be reduced, avoiding sunbeds altogether and practicing sun safety remain the most effective preventive measures, according to Cancer Research UK. The charity advises covering up with clothing, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and UV-protective sunglasses, and applying sunscreen with at least SPF 30 generously and regularly.

More than 20,000 people are diagnosed with melanoma annually in the UK, a figure projected to rise by almost a third by 2040. The vast majority of skin cancer cases are preventable through awareness and protective measures.