By Danielle Kate Wroe

Copyright dailystar

A young woman has revealed her sunbed dependency, which has become so severe that she claims she “physically has to go on” the tanning device every day. When Megan Blain, 19, began experimenting with fake tanning products at 14, she did so because she felt like the “odd one out” and wanted to “fit in” by making herself look bronzed. However, she found that it “smelt horrible” and appeared “patchy” on her skin, while her mum quickly grew tired of the stains left on her bedsheets. When her mum retrieved her sunbed from the garage and allowed her to try it, she discovered a new world. She claimed it required less “effort” than applying fake tan products – but was unaware of the potentially serious health risks when she started her tanning journey. Megan, who shares content on TikTok as @meganblainxo, confessed that she’s been using sunbeds for nearly “four years now,” saying: “It’s past the point of me going on the sunbed to get tanned, just feel like I physically have to go on”. She acknowledged that while she’s now aware of the dangers associated with sunbeds, it “doesn’t scare” her. Megan confessed: “The fact that it doesn’t scare me is quite concerning itself. I know the risks of the tanners and sunbeds, and know I shouldn’t be using them, and know I haven’t ever been for a check up [of her skin], which scares me a bit. “But the thought of skin cancer problems I might have in the future is no concern, and that’s not because I’m ignorant. It scares me more the fact that I’m not scared and don’t care. “I know I’ll have problems in the future; I’ve done half an hour every day for a year, no word of a lie”. She also revealed that she believes she has “moles” and “dodgy patches” on her skin – but was “too scared” to visit the doctor about them. Megan has attempted to quit tanning previously and stopped using tanning injections, which she also relies on, but she said giving up made her feel “sick”. At one stage, she “wouldn’t leave the house” if she didn’t “look tanned enough”. Gradually, using sunbeds has damaged her self-esteem as it has caused her premature signs of ageing. Megan explained her skin “looks dull but dark” and she’s “started to get wrinkles” on her arms and she’s “covered in loads of moles”. “I didn’t attend my prom because I didn’t feel dark enough,” she revealed. Megan did acknowledge she believes “everybody looks better tanned, but it’s not worth the risks and never feeling dark enough”. Tragically, she felt like she also lost mates due to being hooked on tanning, explaining that there was one moment where she was “so dark” from sunbeds and tanning injections that her friends wouldn’t want to walk with her. But there is light at the end of the tunnel, as Megan revealed: “I’m slowly learning to be comfortable in my own skin,” explaining that she doesn’t want it to dominate her life anymore. Alarmingly, the NHS warns that even a single sunbed session before turning 35 can dramatically hike up your risk of melanoma. The British Association of Dermatologists strongly advises against the use of sunbeds or sunlamps. Sunbeds and lamps pose a greater threat than natural sunlight as they emit a concentrated dose of UV radiation. The health hazards associated with sunbeds and other UV tanning devices include: skin cancer, premature ageing of the skin, sunburn, and eye irritation. It’s worth noting that it’s illegal for under-18s to use sunbeds, whether in tanning salons, beauty parlours, leisure centres, gyms, or hotels. Cancer Research UK suggests that if you’re after a bronzed look, opting for a bottled fake tan or a spray tan is a far safer bet than sunbathing or using a sunbed. There’s no such thing as safe UV tanning. UV radiation has the potential to damage the DNA in your skin cells, which can lead to skin cancer, including melanoma – the most severe form of skin cancer. The harm caused by UV rays isn’t always visible as it can accumulate over time. However, a tan is essentially a response to skin cells damaged by excessive UV radiation. They also highlight that any vitamin D you might gain from using a sunbed is overshadowed by the risks involved. A bit of sunshine can help our bodies produce the required vitamin D, but there’s absolutely no need to sunbathe or use a sunbed to get your vitamin D fix.