I’m 21 and I’m addicted to sunbeds – trolls say I’m ‘too dark’ and ‘look dirty’, but I don’t go on them to be pale
A WOMAN has revealed that she is addicted to sunbeds and loves her bronzed glow.
Sam Corey, 21, has been warned by concerned social media users who fear she is “too dark” and may develop “skin cancer”.
But the young woman, believed to be from Ireland, was keen to clap back at haters, and claimed that she wouldn’t pay to go on sunbeds for it to “not be noticeable.”
In a short clip posted online, the blonde beauty posed as she mimed along to a scene from The Wolf of Wall Street.
She wrote: “Think I ripped it on the sunbeds.”
The young woman smiled, as she confirmed that she has an “addiction” to sunbeds.
When the video was taken, Sam claimed that she had been tanning for “just a few weeks.”
Not only this, but she also revealed that in addition to sunbeds, she uses a ‘triple strength’ nasal spray to get her deep glow.
Sunbeds have long been linked to skin cancer and have even been banned in countries like Brazil and Australia.
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), there is significant evidence to show that using tanning beds cause melanoma.
They report that sunbeds increase the risk of skin cancer by up to 20 per cent, and also state that they have no positive benefits to our health.
Sharing her expertise, Carol Cooper, Sun Doctor, said: ”Let’s be clear about sunbeds. It’s not just ‘some’ experts that say they’re bad for your skin. It’s almost all of them.
”Actually, anyone who’s ever used a sunbed is at least 20% more likely to develop malignant melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer.
”UV rays damage the DNA in skin cells, so they’re more likely to mutate into cancer. You don’t even have to burn for it to happen.”
The dangers of nasal tanning sprays
MELANOTAN is an artificial substance that stimulates the pigment cells in your skin to produce more melanin to make the skin look darker.
It is made in different forms, including as an injection and a nasal spray.
All forms of Melanotan are illegal in the UK. Experts say they are not safe to use.
A government spokesperson said: “Melanotan containing products are unlicensed medicines in the UK, and as such the safety, quality and effectiveness has not been demonstrated.
“These products may cause serious side effects, so our advice to those who have used Melanotan injections or nasal sprays is to stop using them immediately and if you have suffered side effects, speak to your doctor.”
“Melanotan products have not been tested for safety, quality or effectiveness so it is not known if using them causes side effects and how serious they are,” Cancer Research UK added.
“Also, Melanotan products could have harmful chemicals in them that aren’t listed on the label.”
Some of the reported side effects include:
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Changing and/or darkening of existing moles
- Painful erections
- Facial flushing
- Dizziness
- Changes in libido
- Pigmentation of the skin and nails
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Death of kidney tissue
Source: Cancer Research UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and Dermatology Times
SOCIAL MEDIA USERS REACT
Sam’s TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @sam_xox2, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly amassed 251,000 views.
But social media users were left hugely divided by Sam’s sunbed usage.
I don’t pay for sunbeds for it not to be noticeable
Sam
Whilst some were envious of her dark colour, not everyone was as kind.
One person said: “I wanna be this colour.”
Another added: “My goal.”
A third commented: “Omg.”
Although Sam may not see the signs now, many social media users flocked to comments to warn her about the dangers.
Risks of sunbeds
THE promise of a constant glowing tan is too tempting for some people to deny.
But while popping to the sunbed shop may seem harmless, people who use tanning beds should be aware of the risks.
Approximately 10 per cent of the population of Northern Europe use sunbeds on a regular basis, the World Health Organization says.
Some people use them for years on end, accumulating risk of serious disease.
We are here to give you the lowdown on sunbeds and if they are safe to use.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), sunbeds are as dangerous as smoking.
Like the sun, they give out harmful UV rays that damage the DNA in your skin cells.
Over time, this may lead to malignant melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer – studies have shown.
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), there is significant evidence to show that using tanning beds causes melanoma.
They report that sunbeds increase the risk of skin cancer by up to 20 per cent, and also state that they have no positive benefits to our health.
Cancer Research back this statistic, adding that ” there is no such thing as a safe tan from UV radiation”.
One study found that sunbeds can almost double the risk of cancer compared to never using them – with women 83 per cent more likely to develop the disease.
While some people think tanning beds are safer than sitting out in the midday sun, according to Cancer Research, the risk is still twice as high when compared to spending the same amount of time in the Mediterranean sun at lunch time.
The Sunbed Association claim there is not enough evidence to link sunbed use with melanoma, adding: “It is over-exposure and burning that will increase a risk of skin cancer, not responsible UV exposure.”
But the WHO says: “The majority of tanning parlours provide inadequate advice to their customers.
“The use of eye protection such as goggles or sunglasses should be mandatory.
“However, as sunbed users aim to have an even tan, they often decide against protecting any part of their body.”
Referring to the link with skin cancer, the world health experts add: “Sunbeds for self-tanning purposes have been available for the last two decades and due to the long latency period for skin cancer and eye damage it has been difficult so far to demonstrate any long-term health effects.
“Even though the causes of malignant melanoma are not fully understood, tumour development appears to be linked to occasional exposure to intense sunlight.
“Sunbeds subject their users to intermittent high exposures of UVA and UVB radiation – this may provide the ideal setting for the development of malignant skin cancer.
“However, the few epidemiological studies that have been carried out to date have not provided any consistent results.”
Despite the WHO’s cautious stance on the skin cancer link, it discourages the use of sunbeds, quoting an expert who said the use of tanning parlours is like “an industrial-scale radiation exposure experiment”.
Regardless of skin cancer, sunbeds don’t just have long-term health risks.
Users have reported a range of short-term symptoms including itching, dryness and redness of skin, freckling and photosensitivity.
Common outcomes in the longer term, especially in fair-skinned people, may involve blistering of the skin.
“Sagging and wrinkling of the skin are an almost certain price to be paid by frequent sunbed users”, the WHO says – not quite the outcome you hope for when going to the sunbed shop for a beautiful, youthful look.
One user claimed: “Too dark, looks dirty, you can tell it’s sunbed tan.”
To this, Sam clapped back and wrote: “I don’t pay for sunbeds for it not to be noticeable.”
Stop and do a spray tan instead. You’re going to look like a handbag down the road otherwise
TikTok user
Meanwhile, a second posted: “This is so wrong.”
A third agreed: “You changed race.”
Whilst someone else explained: “You look a little too dark.”
But Sam clearly wasn’t bothered, as she wrote back: “Thankfully it’s me and not your body babe.”
Meanwhile, one woman warned: “You’re a beautiful gal. Stop and do a spray tan instead. You’re going to look like a handbag down the road otherwise.”
Whilst another shared: “Skin cancer here I come.”
Fabulous has launched its Dying For A Tan campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of using sunbeds, which can raise your risk of skin cancer and cause premature ageing.
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