"I'll Never Stop! I'm Addicted": Meet the Women Ignoring the Science and Using Sunbeds

Unless you've been living under a rock, you should be well aware of the damage sun exposure can cause in increasing your risk of melanoma skin cancer. So why has there been an increase in sunbed use? According to research by the charity Melanoma Focus in May 2024, a quarter (28%) of adults in the UK say they use sunbeds. What's even more surprising is that figure rises to 43% for 18-25 year olds.

Although the statistic surprised me on paper, I have to say it is something I have been seeing and hearing about in real life. A few weeks ago, on a rare sunny day, I noticed there was a buzz on my local high street. Walking towards the crowd, I wondered if it was people taking advantage of an alfresco drink? Or possibly a new artisan ice cream shop? As I approached I could see the gaggle of people weren't actually standing together, they were in a queue for a tanning shop.

One thing that stuck out at me was the mix of genders and ages. There was not a "type", the queue was a cross section of the local community. It would be quick to dismiss this because I live in Essex, which is known for its love of a TOWIE bronzed glow, but according to the research it's not a postcode problem. TikTok is full of videos of Gen Z talking about the supposed benefits of artificial tanning and even Kim Kardashian posted a video of her laying on a sunbed proudly stating "I'm Kim Kardashian, of course I have a tanning bed in my house" for the world to see.

With all the discourse around sun protection, skin cancer and SPF it seems surprising that something considered taboo a few years ago — and has even been banned in places like Australia — has seen an increase in popularity. I needed to know why this was happening, so I decided to ask some frequent tanning bed users why they still use a machine that experts regard as completely unsafe and is proven to give you cancer. Some of the answers surprised me and even started to make me reconsider my opinion (albeit fleetingly).

Dr Hiva Fassihi is a certified dermatologist at OneWelbeck

"I'm addicted!" says Shannon, a retail assistant, based in London. "My Nanny had cancer and my aunt, yet I still can't stop. At the end of the day something's going to get me, so I may as well enjoy tanned skin whilst I wait for the inevitable," she tells PS UK. This idea of sunbed addiction is slowly being proven by the scientific community too. "A growing body of research suggests that excessive tanning is a behaviour with addictive potential," explains Dr Hiva Fassihi, Dermatologist at OneWelbeck Skin Health & Allergy, London. "A study published in the British Journal of Dermatology in 2017, concluded that as many as one in five sunbed users may have symptoms of addiction."

As I looked at Shannon's deeply tanned skin I could see this wasn't a new habit, so I asked her how long she has been using tanning beds. "Forever!" she replied. "And I won't stop, you should see the colour of my natural skin – I'm so fair." I asked if she ever considered switching to self tan, to which she shrugged and admitted to topping up her skin with Dove gradual tan. But then she explained that using the sun bed is not just about what it does to her appearance, it's also about how it makes her feel. "I feel like I have a 10 minute holiday, I love it," she tells PS UK. "I come off and I'm buzzing, it really helps my mood. Especially in the UK with this weather."

"I've been using them since I was 18, I'm now 49," Genny tells PS UK. "It makes me feel better and the vitamin D helps my mental health too." As we continue to chat, her answers reflect Shannon's and I'm starting to realise, regardless of the science, for some people it's a risk they are willing to take.

Like personal trainer and fitness fanatic Rachel. She believes having a tan is almost part of her job, as she spends most of the time in gym wear and her body acts like an advertising board to potential clients. She also believes it is ok as it's her one vice. "I live an extremely healthy lifestyle, I work out five or six times a week, eat well 90% of the time and hardly drink alcohol. I have lowered my risk of cancer in all areas of my life – having a tan and feeling confident in my skin is worth the risk," she tells PS UK. She asked me why people are more shocked about those who use tanning beds compared to someone who eats an ultra processed diet. I couldn't find the answer and it's becoming clearer to me why there was such a queue.

On the other side of the coin however, are those who have been affected by sunbed use. "I used to use them all the time," Jo tells PS UK. "That was until I developed skin cancer in my early thirties. Now I avoid them at all costs, your health isn't worth it. Use fake tan!" This was echoed by Jan who was also recently diagnosed with melanoma on her nose. "We need to take sun protection seriously," she tells PS UK. "I will never risk cancer for a tan ever again." She then told me after years of sun worshipping with little regard for the risks she had completely changed her outlook when faced with a dreaded cancer diagnosis. "No tan is worth it," she added.

This is echoed by dermatologists everywhere. "Sunbeds produce high amounts of UVA and UVB which can damage the areas of the skin exposed to the bulbs," explains Dr Fassihi. "The damage to the DNA in the skin cells, if excessive, will eventually lead to skin cancer, including melanoma, which is the most serious type of skin cancer."

With the research suggesting Gen Z are ignoring the risks she has this added warning: "For those who start using sunbeds before the age of 35 years, the relative risk of malignant melanoma almost doubles."

With the information readily available and the majority of users understanding and knowing the risks, it is not clear how — without further legislation, similar to smoking – we can change people's sunbed habits or encourage the younger generations to stop. Although it is worth considering Claire's tale of caution if you ever find yourself justifying a tan over the risks. After being a weekly user through her late teens and early 20s she passed out from the heat as she stepped off the machine and broke her ankle: "I've now got metal and pins holding my ankle together – never again!"

Lauren Ezekiel is an associate editor at PS UK, where she writes about all things beauty and wellness. With a degree in journalism and 12 years' experience as a beauty editor at a leading Sunday supplement, she is obsessed with skincare, hair and makeup, and is often found offering advice to innocent bystanders. Her work has been published in Grazia, OK, Health and Beauty, The Sun, ASDA, Dare and Metro.