A TEENAGE sunbed addict who jumps in the beds twice a day admits she can’t quit, even after spotting a suspicious mark.
Megan Blain thinks the mark on her arm might be skin cancer but even this hasn’t persuaded her to kick the habit.
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“It doesn’t even faze me that I could have melanoma and could turn into something life-threatening, it doesn’t scare me at all,” she said.
The 18-year-old decided to swap fake tan bottles for lying on sunbeds two years ago in a bid to achieve a “glamorous” dark look all year round.
Since then she has used a sunbed every day for two years – often laying on the beds for as long as half an hour under the UV lights.
The student, who lives in County Durham, said she also injects herself with tanning jabs before frequenting the beds to give herself a deeper glow.
Megan says strangers often stare at her on the street – and trolls compare her to a “burnt chip” – but she still never feels dark enough.
She said: “Everywhere I go, I see people staring at me.
“When people say I’m dark, I actually find that hard to believe.
“I don’t feel dark whatsoever – it’s like I’m physically blind.”
More recently Megan spotted a “patch” on her skin which she says “keeps changing size”.
“I’ve tried to go to the doctor five times but keep freezing at the door.
The teen is finally weaning herself off the bed and has at least three days off each week.
“I want to stop one day but I can’t ever imagine myself not going on the sunbeds,” she explained
“I wouldn’t recommend anyone to do this. You could end up addicted without even realising like me.”
Megan said her views on sunbeds have changed and is now warning the younger generation to steer clear of tanning salons.
She said: “If I could go back in time, I would’ve never started.
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“I just feel like I have to go on the sunbeds – it’s not even a case of wanting to be tanned anymore.
Megan said her addiction is so bad she finds it hard to turn the bed off once she’s inside
“I don’t even like going on sunbeds, I dread it, but I feel like I physically have to go on,” she added.
“The younger generation seem to be using [sunbeds] more than the older generation which is concerning because If I got addicted without even realising it then the same could happen to other people.”
Sunbed use on the rise
A recent survey from Melanoma Focus revealed sunbed usage among people aged 18 to 25 year has risen to 43 per cent.
Experts think social media, mainly TikTok, is helping to drive the concerning trend.
Dr Nyla Raja, an aesthetic practitioner and medical director of Nyla Medispa, said: “Of all the beauty trends to make a reemergence, the reported increase in sunbed ‘binge-tanning’ is the most concerning and dangerous.
“From a purely aesthetic standpoint, sunbeds contribute to premature ageing (fine lines and wrinkles) and hyperpigmentation.
“From a healthcare standpoint, they are potentially deadly.”
Tanning beds expose the skin to concentrated ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
“This excessive UV exposure can damage the DNA in your skin cells, dramatically increasing your risk of developing skin cancer, including melanoma, the deadliest form,” Dr Nyla told The Sun.
“In fact, using tanning beds before the age of 30 can increase your melanoma risk by up to 75 per cent,” she added.
Tanning injections, often containing melanotan, are “equally dangerous”, she explained.
“They are unregulated, often sold illegally, and can lead to severe side effects such as nausea, kidney damage, and the appearance of abnormal skin growths.
“What’s particularly alarming is that these injections stimulate pigment production in the skin, which can mask early signs of skin cancer, delaying diagnosis and treatment.”
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‘I receive hate’
Megan’s appearance has sparked debate online – with trolls labelling her a ‘burnt chip’ and ‘two coin’ online.
One person said in regards to Megan’s tanned skin colour: “The chips that fell off the tray in the oven and I forgot about.”
Another added: “You know when you get those really dirty twop coins.”
A third said: “Did [the sunbeds] cremate you?”
Reacting to the criticism, Megan said: “My family say I’m too dark. I see a lot of comments online and I do care what people think.
“I’ve received hate through TikTok.
How do sunbeds cause skin cancer?
There are an estimated 2,000 tanning salons in Britain, with some offering sessions from as little as 70p a minute.
Sunbeds give off ultraviolet (UV) radiation, just like the sun does.
Too much UV radiation from the sun or sunbeds causes skin cancer.
If you want a tan, using fake tan from a bottle or a spray tan is safer than using a sunbed or sunbathing, Cancer Research says.
There’s no such thing as safe UV tanning.
Since 2010 it has been illegal for people under the age of 18 to use sunbeds.
And it is an offence for any business to offer UV tanning services to people under the age of 18.
How likely is getting cancer from sunbeds?
Too much UV radiation is the third biggest cause of cancer and the main cause of skin cancer in the UK.
Every time you use a sunbed you are damaging your skin and increasing your risk of skin cancer.
The good news is that around 9 in 10 cases of melanoma skin cancer in the UK could be prevented by staying safe in the sun and avoiding sunbeds.
Source: Cancer Research UK
“I thought the video that went viral looked nice at the time and wondered why I received so much hate but now I realise why and that the video actually didn’t look nice at all.”
However, Megan has received some words of encouragement against the online backlash and support in her journey to ditch the sunbeds.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
One person said: “You’re beautiful either way don’t let anyone tell you any different.”
Another added: “You’re gorgeous in every way possible. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. So proud of you.”