The Rise of Tanning Beds in the 1980s and Their Lasting Link to Skin Cancer - Andrea Leonard
May 28, 2025In the pursuit of beauty, trends come and go—but some leave more than just a cultural imprint. One such trend is the popularity of tanning beds, which began surging in the 1980s. Marketed as a glamorous, convenient way to achieve a sun-kissed glow year-round, indoor tanning quickly became a staple in beauty routines across the United States and beyond. However, this glowing fad came with a dark side: a significant and well-documented correlation with the rising incidence of skin cancer.
If you lived through it, the 80s tanning culture wasn’t just about tanning salons—it was a lifestyle. I still remember slathering baby oil or Hawaiian Tropic SPF 2 (which was more like coconut-scented water than sun protection), climbing onto an inflatable raft (floating in the ocean in Ocean City, MD) for eight straight hours—no hat, no shade, no reapplication. The sting of sunburn always came later, but it was almost a badge of honor, the first step in developing that coveted “base tan.” I prided myself on being the "tannest" girl on the beach. As soon as we came off the beach I would evaluate the "amount" of tan I added to my existing glow. And let's not forget the disappointment of a spring break trip to Ft. Lauderdale when it rained all week and we headed straight to the tanning beds; God forbid we come back without a bronze glow!
Back on land, the obsession continued. We’d go from tanning bed to tanning bed, hopping around town, taking advantage of free trials at new tanning salons. The beds had timers, but those were easy to turn back manually if you wanted "just a little more color." We didn’t think about skin damage, or if we did, we assumed there would be a cure for cancer and that we would just get facelifts. Now that I am 59, and have sun damage that is representative of the hundreds of hours spent in the sun, I realize that the price tag for a facelift is still out of most people's reach and there is no cure for cancer.
The Glow That Sold a Generation
The 1980s marked a turning point in beauty ideals. Bronzed skin, once a marker of outdoor labor, had evolved into a symbol of wealth, health, and affluence—thanks in part to fashion icons, celebrities, and advertising campaigns. Tanning beds capitalized on this shift. Their promise was irresistible: a tan in minutes, no need for beach time, and all in the controlled environment of a salon or home.
By the end of the decade, tanning salons were booming. The industry exploded as teenagers and young adults flocked to these devices in droves. Manufacturers touted the safety and control of artificial UV rays, downplaying or outright denying any significant health risks.
Science Paints a Darker Picture
As the use of tanning beds rose, so too did the rates of skin cancer, particularly melanoma—the deadliest form. Numerous studies in the following decades drew a clear connection between artificial tanning and increased cancer risk. According to the World Health Organization, people who begin using tanning beds before the age of 35 increase their risk of developing melanoma by 75%1.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, whether from the sun or from tanning beds, damages the DNA in skin cells. This damage can accumulate over time and lead to mutations that trigger cancer2. The problem with tanning beds is that they often emit UVA rays at intensities up to 15 times stronger than midday sunlight3. This intense exposure can cause deep skin damage, accelerating aging and significantly increasing cancer risk.
The Aftermath: A Public Health Concern
By the 2000s, as skin cancer rates climbed, public health agencies began sounding the alarm. Campaigns aimed at educating the public—particularly young people—about the dangers of indoor tanning became widespread. Laws and regulations followed, with some countries banning the use of tanning beds for minors and requiring warning labels in salons4.
Despite these efforts, indoor tanning remained popular for many years, with some users underestimating or ignoring the risks. However, awareness continues to grow. As of today, many in the medical and dermatological communities classify tanning beds as carcinogenic1, and their use has seen a steady decline—though not as sharp as some might hope5.
Lessons from a Cultural Obsession
The story of tanning beds and skin cancer is a cautionary tale about how beauty standards can drive health decisions, often with long-term consequences. The 1980s obsession with tanned skin led to widespread use of a product that has since been linked to thousands of cases of skin cancer, many of them preventable.
Looking back, it’s clear that what seemed like a harmless cosmetic choice was, in fact, a high-stakes gamble with health. As society continues to evolve its standards and definitions of beauty, the hope is that science and safety won’t be overshadowed by trends.
Tanning beds may have been a cultural icon of the 1980s, but their legacy is marred by the health crisis they helped fuel. The connection between indoor tanning and skin cancer is now undeniable. With greater awareness and continued public health advocacy, we can ensure that the lessons of the past shape a healthier future—one where beauty doesn't come at the cost of wellbeing.
References
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), World Health Organization (WHO)
“The association of use of sunbeds with cutaneous malignant melanoma and other skin cancers: A systematic review.”
Lancet Oncology, 2007
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This study classified tanning beds as Group 1 carcinogens and found a 75% increase in melanoma risk when use began before age 35.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(09)70102-5
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Skin Cancer Foundation
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Provides extensive information about the dangers of indoor tanning and statistics on skin cancer incidence.
Link: https://www.skincancer.org/risk-factors/tanning/
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U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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Data on indoor tanning usage trends and public health risks.
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/indoor_tanning.htm
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American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD)
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Research and position statements on the correlation between tanning bed use and increased risk of melanoma and other skin cancers.
Link: https://www.aad.org/media/stats/prevention-and-care
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Public Health & Regulatory Responses
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
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The FDA regulates tanning beds and has issued guidelines and warnings about their use.
Link: https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/tanning
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National Cancer Institute (NCI)
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Reports on the epidemiology of skin cancer and UV radiation exposure.
Link: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/sunlight
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U.S. Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer (2014)
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Details strategies to reduce exposure to UV radiation, including warnings against tanning bed use.
Link: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/call-to-action-prevent-skin-cancer.pdf
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