David PerlmutterPresident,, Perlmutter Health Center · Board-Certified Neurologist | Functional Medicine Pioneer | #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author | International Speaker | Host of The Empowering Neurologist Podcast

The Real Risk of Tanning Beds

27 Feb 2026 · 1 min

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In this brief health advisory, Dr. David Perlmutter warns viewers against using tanning booths, emphasizing that such use dramatically raises the risk of skin cancer, particularly melanoma. He cites the FDA’s black‑box warning—the agency’s most serious caution—on tanning lamps and beds, and references a peer‑reviewed study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that found a significant increase in melanoma incidence among users. Perlmutter advises against tanning booths and suggests safer alternatives for achieving a healthy appearance, such as makeup, skin toners, or embracing a different aesthetic, urging the audience to stay away from these devices.

Chapters

Hey, let's all go to the tanning booth. Great idea? No, it's not. Let's not, and here's why. If you're using a tanning booth, you are dramatically increasing your risk for skin cancer, and that includes melanoma, which can be life-threatening. You know, the Food and Drug Administration actually has a black box warning as it relates to the use of tanning lamps, tanning beds, and going into a tanning booth, and that's their most serious level of warning as it relates to using a device or even taking a drug. So we know that research, as published, for example, in the Journal of the American Medical Association, shows a significant increased risk for melanoma— yes, the worst type of skin cancer there is— in people who use these types of devices. So what are you going to do? You know, you want to look healthy, maybe use some makeup, skin toner. I'm not really sure. Maybe the goth look is coming back. I don't know. But stay away from the tanning booth.