Sunbed Addiction Fuels Skin Cancer Surge Among Young Women

A dangerous trend is unfolding on social media, as young women are increasingly drawn to tanning beds, often at the expense of their health. The pursuit of a perfect tan, fueled by online influencers, is tragically leading to a rise in skin cancer cases.

The Daily Ritual

Every morning, Taylor Lyttle visits a local salon for a 15-minute sunbed session. This ritual costs her £13. The 21-year-old then checks her TikTok feed to compare her tan with her friends’.

Social Media Influence

The platform is awash with content under hashtags like #tanned and #sunnyd, often featuring users bathed in UV light. This exposure is encouraging dangerous practices among young women. This is driving many to engage in risky behaviors.

The Risks Ignored

Lyttle, a hairdresser from Belfast, acknowledges the potential dangers of sunbed use. However, she remains unconcerned. For her, tanning is a stress reliever. She says, “If I see someone online darker than me, I get annoyed. I love how I look with a tan, it boosts my confidence and I feel more attractive.”

Lyttle also uses nasal tanning sprays, purchased from a friend. Last month, authorities issued a warning. Nasal tanning sprays could cause health issues like high blood pressure. The warning urged users to be careful about these unregulated products.

The Health Crisis

Dr. Björn Thomas, a dermatologist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in London, is seeing more young patients with melanoma. He says the carcinogenic effects of sunbeds could be far higher than getting sunlight outdoors. The potential consequences of the disease can be devastating.

“We’re no longer surprised to see someone aged 19 or 20 with melanoma,”

—Dr. Björn Thomas, Consultant Dermatologist

According to the World Health Organization, sunbeds are as dangerous as smoking. This is because they emit UV rays that can damage the skin’s DNA. This damage can eventually lead to skin cancer, including melanoma.

A Personal Tragedy

Georgia Edwards was only 19 when diagnosed with melanoma. She had been using sunbeds for three years. She recalls how addictive it was. She’d go with her friends, and it felt like they’d “gone to Spain and back.”

The Reality of Skin Cancer

Jessica Crowe knows the pain sunbeds can cause. Her sister, Tazmyn, died from skin cancer at 31. She had used sunbeds heavily. Jessica says her sister’s health issues began with sunbed use.

Tazmyn was diagnosed with skin cancer. The cancer returned, reaching stage three. Tragically, she passed away in March 2023. She left behind three children. Jessica finds it distressing to see social media posts promoting sunbed use.

Susanna Daniels, CEO of Melanoma Focus, notes a rise in sunbed use among young people. Almost one-third of people over 16 in the UK use them. Furthermore, the percentage rises to 52% in 18-21 year olds. “This has been on the rise in recent years and it may be leading people to make harmful choices,” she states.

Despite the stories, Lyttle says she will not ditch her tanning habit. “People drink, smoke, vape or eat junk food. Lots of things we do are bad, but we do it anyway. For me, a tan is worth the risk.”

A Call to Action

Jessica Crowe wants a ban on sunbeds, as in Australia, or at least some restrictions. Her message to young women is to stop using them. She urges them to ignore the influencers promoting this dangerous trend. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, just one blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a person’s risk of developing melanoma (AAD 2024).