By Irishexaminer.com,Sally Foran

Copyright irishexaminer

I’ll never forget being on a press trip in Madrid with a giant skincare brand. In the taxi to our hotel, some younger influencers were checking the UV index – not to avoid sun damage, but to see when they’d get the “best tan”.

I’ve been the “sun police” for years. When my sister visited me in hospital after I’d had my younger child 20 years ago, fresh off a plane from Greece, the first thing I said was, “I hope that’s not a real tan.”

I’ve never understood why people are meticulous about applying SPF to their face while ignoring their body. Do they think the rules of accelerated ageing, pigmentation, collagen loss, and, most importantly, skin cancer, don’t apply below the neck?

Being pale used to be a sign of wealth, as it meant you didn’t work outside. But when Coco Chanel popularised the bronzed look in the 1920s, tanning became fashionable, and the desire for a golden glow has never really gone away. Today, for many, the yearning for a tan outweighs the risks, and sunbeds offer a quick, convenient fix. But tanning is a direct result of genetic damage to the skin, so there really is no healthy way to pursue a bronzed glow — unless it comes out of a bottle.

As for the more serious health risk, the facts are crystal clear. The World Health Organization has classified sunbeds as a group 1 carcinogen — this means they are proven to cause cancer. One study, which looked at the association between indoor tanning and melanoma in younger women found that of 63 women diagnosed with skin cancer before 30, 61 had used sunbeds.

And yet, despite overwhelming evidence, sunbeds remain available in many countries, including here in Ireland. However, that might be set to change.

A report published by the Institute of Public Health this summer recommended a ban on sunbeds to reduce the risk of skin cancer in Ireland, which has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world.

Brazil recognised the dangers early, banning all cosmetic sunbed use in 2009. Australia introduced a nationwide ban in 2015. I’m hopeful we will follow suit.

Some people still believe tanning helps acne or psoriasis, while others cling to notions of a “base tan” protecting the skin, or that indoor tanning boosts vitamin D. In reality, all tanning is a sign of skin damage, and sunbeds only increase the risk of premature ageing, pigmentation, and skin cancer. Vitamin D can be safely obtained through diet, a supplement, or minimal sun exposure.

So why do people still use sunbeds? Cultural ideals, convenience, and social media all play a role. A bronzed look is glamorised as “healthy” and “holiday ready,” while some influencers, particularly on TikTok, romanticise tanning as “self-care” or even “vitamin D therapy.” The irony is that Gen Z, obsessed with anti-ageing skincare routines, are indulging in one of the most ageing habits possible.

The expert take

“A tan is a sign of harm,” Jennifer Rock, facialist and founder/CEO of the Skin Nerd says. “What looks like a glow is your body’s alarm system, producingmelanin in a desperate attempt to shield DNA from injury.

“For Irish skin, which is naturally more vulnerable to UV, that glow is a warning flare, damage has already occurred.”

“Sunbeds expose skin to intense UV, accelerating ageing and increasing cancer risk,” Prof Caitríona Ryan, consultant dermatologist and co-founder of the Institute of Dermatologists adds.

“Every tan adds to cumulative skin damage, there is no safe way around it.”

Prof Ryan believes education around sunbeds, including public health campaigns, are needed to remind us all that no tan is safe.

“Regular use [of sunbeds] can lead to deep wrinkles, pigmentation, and collagen loss that cannot be reversed. Overexposure during sensitive life stages, such as menopause, amplifies these effects. Myths about acne, psoriasis, or vitamin D are simply false.

“Skip the sunbed, use SPF daily, and embrace fake tan, your skin will thank you.”