{"id":1453,"date":"2025-07-02T14:00:46","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T14:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/?p=1453"},"modified":"2025-07-05T14:39:58","modified_gmt":"2025-07-05T14:39:58","slug":"i-know-how-risky-sunbeds-are-so-why-cant-i-quit-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/02\/i-know-how-risky-sunbeds-are-so-why-cant-i-quit-them\/","title":{"rendered":"I Know How Risky Sunbeds Are, So Why Can\u2019t I Quit Them?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Welcome to\u00a0Sun Blocked<\/a>, Refinery29\u2019s global call to action to wake up to the serious dangers of tanning. No lectures or shaming, we promise. Instead, our goal is to arm you with the facts you need to protect your skin to the best of your ability, because there\u2019s no such thing as safe sun.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll just do a few sessions on a sunbed<\/a> to build a base tan before my holiday,\u201d I told myself earlier this year. The results weren\u2019t instant, unlike the self-tanners I\u2019ve used for over a decade, but after a few visits, my skin looked golden. I enjoyed the somewhat lasting glow that didn\u2019t leave me looking like a slice of tiger bread after four days.<\/p>\n

I planned to stop going to the tanning salon once I got back to the UK, but the allure of sunbed-kissed skin was hard to resist. What started as building a holiday base tan \u2014 which dermatologists argue is actually a myth<\/a> \u2014 quickly turned into, \u201cI\u2019ll keep going so I\u2019m tanned for my birthday,\u201d then, \u201cI might as well continue over summer. A few more weeks won\u2019t hurt.\u201d Before I knew it, I was clocking up minutes at the tanning salon like points on my Tesco Clubcard. Unlike the money-off coupons I get with my Clubcard, however, there\u2019s no long-term benefit to using sunbeds.<\/p>\n

But I know this. I know the potentially life-threatening risks<\/a> of using sunbeds. I know that sunbed use increases the risk of developing skin cancer<\/a> like melanoma, and that sunbeds cause about 440 melanomas and around 100 deaths each year in the UK, according to research from the charity Melanoma Focus<\/a>. I\u2019m not alone in knowing the risks. In a UK survey<\/a> conducted this year, 59% of people admitted they knew that sunbed use increases the risk of skin cancer. Why, then, do we continue?\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Tanning is addictive and there\u2019s actually a biological explanation.<\/p>\n

Dr Clare Kiely, consultant dermatologist<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

Why do we think a tan makes us more attractive?<\/h2>\n

Dr Ravi Gill, a practitioner psychologist at Smart Mind Health<\/a>, says that beauty ideals such as \u2018tanned equals attractive<\/a>\u2019 can override our instinct for self-protection: \u201cThis is due to powerful social and psychological influences,\u201d says Dr Gill. Adding, \u201cFrom a young age, we\u2019re exposed to messages \u2014 through media<\/a>, peers and culture \u2014 that link tanned skin with attractiveness, status and health. Over time, these ideas are internalised and tied to our self-worth and identity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lisa, 32, can certainly relate. She used a sunbed for the first time at just 17 years old after a friend said it would \u201clook good\u201d to have tanned skin. \u201cI was curious, so I decided to give it a try,\u201d she tells me, adding that body insecurities are a reason she still uses them: \u201cWhen I\u2019m tanned, the spider veins and cellulite on my legs, which you don\u2019t see much of on social media, are less visible,\u201d she says. \u201cThat makes me feel more confident. I get compliments as well, which is motivation to continue.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Interestingly, tanning isn\u2019t the only example of how we\u2019re trading safety for self-esteem. This notion can also be applied to many of our aesthetic practices, like unregulated Botox and BBLs, which have a notoriously high mortality rate<\/a> in comparison to other cosmetic procedures. Shedding light on this, Dr Gill explains that humans crave social acceptance and fear rejection, choosing to conform to beauty norms \u2014 even when they involve risks: \u201cThe desire for social belonging and approval often feels more immediate and emotionally powerful than long-term health concerns,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

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While I think tanning makes me look better in many ways, I feel particularly conflicted about the damage it\u2019s doing thanks to my medical history: I\u2019ve always had a few questionable moles. The fact that I use sunbeds is something I\u2019m quite embarrassed about.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

Concerningly, Lisa tells me that she fears skin ageing more than skin cancer: \u201cIronically, I\u2019ve curated a social media feed full of skinfluencers teaching me how to look after my skin<\/a>, and I\u2019ve honed a [multi-step] skincare routine. Yet I continue to do the one thing that will damage my skin the most \u2014 something which no amount of serum or SPF can save me from.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lisa\u2019s honesty, or as she puts it, \u201csilliness\u201d, might seem extreme to some, but it reveals a deeper truth: decades of messaging have taught us that our value lies in our appearance. Thanks to the popularity of Ozempic<\/a> alongside the return of thinness on red carpets and For You Pages (which notably prompted the \u2018skinnytok\u2019 hashtag<\/a> ban), being slim is back on a pedestal \u2014 and tanning plays a role here. I\u2019ve often found myself commenting on how much \u2018slimmer\u2019 I look with a tan, and who can blame me? Shows like Love Island<\/em><\/a> have helped solidify the idea that bronzed skin doesn\u2019t just look \u201cbetter\u201d but also leaner and more sculpted \u2014 like contouring for your whole body. <\/p>\n

Is tanning bad for you?<\/h2>\n

While I think tanning makes me look better in many ways, I feel particularly conflicted about the damage it\u2019s doing thanks to my medical history. I\u2019ve always had a few questionable moles<\/a>. Some are asymmetric, others have jagged borders and a range of colours. On holiday, when my skin is exposed in a bikini, friends and family have commented on it and encouraged me to get checked out. After spending time living in Australia,\u00a0where UV levels<\/a> are very high, I decided to follow through on this. I wasn\u2019t a sunbed user at the time of my first (or second) mole check, but doctors did flag that the Sydney sunshine could have put my skin at risk. After an examination of my moles, I was advised to keep an eye on them and return if I saw any \u201cnoticeable changes\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the years since those checks, I\u2019ve observed a handful of changes to some of my moles. But as someone with health anxiety<\/a>, I never know if I\u2019m being paranoid or if I really should go back to the doctor. Consequently, I\u2019m in limbo \u2014 I don\u2019t want to waste NHS time if the changes I\u2019ve seen aren\u2019t \u201cnoticeable\u201d enough, but I also don\u2019t want to ignore the issue and end up in a potentially life-threatening situation. Taking all of this into consideration, the fact that I use sunbeds probably sounds absurd. Honestly, it\u2019s something I\u2019m quite embarrassed about.<\/p>\n

Why do we use sunbeds despite the risks?<\/h2>\n

Dr Gill explains that this is a case of cognitive dissonance, when a person feels psychological discomfort because their actions contradict their beliefs. \u201cIn beauty culture, this dissonance is common,\u201d she says, pointing again to societal pressures. \u201cFor example, someone may understand the risks of sunbed use or crash dieting but still engage in these behaviours to align with societal beauty ideals.\u201d Dr Gill goes on to explain that we try to resolve this internal discomfort by rationalising our behaviours rather than changing them. Telling ourselves, \u201cIt\u2019s just for summer\u201d or \u201cEveryone else is doing it\u201d is an easy way to avoid feelings of guilt.<\/p>\n

Critics, however, often think that sunbed users should<\/em> feel guilty for this choice. But here\u2019s the thing: \u201cShaming people for using sunbeds often backfires, making them more likely to continue the behaviour,\u201d says Dr Gill. She adds, \u201cResearch shows that self-criticism reduces motivation for change, while compassionate, non-judgmental support is more effective in encouraging healthier choices.\u201d But can anyone truly say they\u2019ve always put their health above all else? Like sunbeds, alcohol, processed meat and tobacco, for example, are classed as type one carcinogens<\/a> \u2014 substances that can cause cancer. I\u2019m keen to know whether those who frown on my habit often indulge in a fast food burger or unwind with a bottle of wine.<\/p>\n

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We are watching the number of skin cancers scale out of control in our clinics.<\/p>\n

Dr Kiely<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

Is tanning addictive?<\/h2>\n

That\u2019s before we bring class into the equation. Research that shows those from lower socio-economic backgrounds are more likely to use sunbeds<\/a>. Although further investigation is needed to explore why that is, a 2022 study<\/a> concluded that sunbed use has been historically framed through the media as a \u201cworking-class activity\u201d.<\/p>\n

Of course, it\u2019s not just about class, appearances or a taste for Sauvignon Blanc; the addictiveness of carcinogens plays a role: \u201cTanning is addictive and there\u2019s actually a biological explanation,\u201d says Dr Clare Kiely, a consultant dermatologist and cofounder of The Skin Diary<\/a>. She explains that when the body is exposed to UV radiation, it triggers a process that results in the release of endorphins, hormones that create a sense of \u201ceuphoria\u201d. For many, the glow isn\u2019t just about looking good \u2014 it\u2019s about feeling good, too: \u201cI\u2019m normally in a better mood after a sunbed,\u201d confirms Ella, who agrees this \u201cmood-boosting\u201d effect is a big factor in why people feel addicted to sunbeds. Lisa echoes this, telling me she enjoys the light and \u201cme-time\u201d of being on a sunbed: \u201cIt\u2019s like dreaming myself away to a beach.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Given how addictive sunbeds are, the responsibility to prevent their damage shouldn\u2019t rest solely on users. Many experts argue that stricter regulation is the only way forward, especially as research shows we continue to tan in spite of the evidence before us. \u201cI don\u2019t believe the current regulations are adequate,\u201d says Dr Rakesh Anand<\/a>, a consultant dermatologist and British Skin Foundation<\/a> spokesperson. He notes that while there are restrictions on under-18s and some standards for equipment and usage, there\u2019s still a\u00a0\u201csignificant\u201d public health risk.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven the well-established link between sunbed use and skin cancer, stronger measures are urgently needed,\u201d he adds. As for what that might look like, various skin cancer charities have called for sunbeds to have graphic warning signs<\/a> similar to those found on cigarette packets, while a June 2025 study exposed \u201cpotential gaps in current regulations<\/a>\u201d when it comes to tanning salons marketing on social media.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Whether on a sunbed in South London or a beach lounger in Spain, dermatologists are firm in their answer that there\u2019s no such thing as a safe tan \u2014 \u201cUnless it\u2019s self-tanner from a bottle,\u201d says Dr Kiely. She agrees with Dr Anand that the only way to \u201celiminate\u201d risk is to ban sunbeds<\/a>, as they are in countries such as Australia and Brazil: \u201cI\u2019m coming at it as a person who has spent her career cutting out thousands of skin cancers, some of them life-threatening,\u201d Dr Kiely adds. \u201cWe are watching the number of skin cancers scale out of control in our clinics. We must take measures now to protect future generations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite being reminded by every expert of the very real dangers before me, in the time I\u2019ve been writing this article, I\u2019ve clocked up another 44 minutes on the sunbeds \u2014 although I have reduced the frequency of my visits. I want to stop altogether and pick up my once-beloved self-tanners that are currently collecting dust, but I\u2019m trying to feel less guilt and shame about this habit, as I\u2019ve unpicked how years of societal pressure led me to this point. Ultimately, that\u2019s what needs to change. From Botox to fillers and beyond, we\u2019ve all been sold on the \u2018ideal\u2019 appearance, which can differ depending on what we\u2019ve been conditioned into thinking. <\/p>\n

The recent ban on disposable vapes<\/a> proves that if people want to do something, they\u2019ll find a way, so we all have to do our part in breaking the cycle when it comes to tanning. Mine is writing this article and being vulnerable about a paradox many of us feel but rarely discuss: the desire to protect our skin while craving the glow of a tan. It would also help to see celebrities and influencers embracing their natural skin tones<\/a>, and for brands to do the same with the models in their campaigns. Whether it\u2019s a school session or a poster in a tanning salon, better education could also go a long way \u2014 not just about the dangers of sunbeds, which clearly isn\u2019t always enough, but about how to resist outside pressure. In learning how to accept ourselves as we are, we might just find the glow hits differently when it comes from within.<\/p>\n

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Hard Truth Behind The Eczema & Sunbeds Myth<\/a><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s Talk About Love Island \u2014 & Those Tans<\/a><\/p>\n

The Real Reasons Why Sunbeds Aren't Yet Banned<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Welcome to\u00a0Sun Blocked, Refinery29\u2019s global call to action to wake up to the serious dangers of tanning. No lectures or shaming, we promise. Instead, our goal is to arm you with the facts you need to protect your skin to the best of your ability, because there\u2019s no such thing as safe sun.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll just…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1455,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1453"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1453"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1453\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1456,"href":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1453\/revisions\/1456"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1455"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1453"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.machimp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}