A TEENAGE tanning addict branded a ‘filthy 2p piece’ by trolls is struggling to quit even after spotting a suspicious clue.
Megan Blain fears that the “band-aid” on her arm could be skin cancer, but even that hasn’t convinced her to give up the habit forever.
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Megan Blain is a self-proclaimed tanning addict who used to use tanning beds twice a dayCredit: Kennedy News
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The 18-year-old used fake tan – this, or her natural skin tone is shown in the image Credit: Kennedy News
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Now Megan uses the tanning bed several times a week, cutting back on her daily habitCredit: Kennedy News
A recent survey by Melanoma Focus found that tanning bed use among 18- to 25-year-olds had risen to 43 percent.
Experts believe that social media, mainly TikTok, is contributing to the worrying trend.
Melanoma – a type of skin cancer – is on the rise in the UK and around 100 deaths a year are linked to the use of tanning beds.
The NHS warns that tanning beds can be more dangerous than natural sunlight because they use a concentrated source of cell-damaging UV radiation.
Megan said the sign “doesn’t bother her” but warns others not to fall into the same dangerous habit.
“I could have melanoma and it could turn into something life-threatening, that doesn’t scare me at all,” she added.
The 18-year-old decided to swap fake suntan bottles two years ago in a bid to achieve a “glamorous” tan all year round.
Since then, she used the tanning bed every day for two years – often lying on the bed for as long as half an hour under the UV lights.
The student, who lives in County Durham, says strangers often stare at her in the street – and trolls compare her to a “dirty piece of 2 pen” or a “burnt chip” – but she still never feels dark enough.
She said: “Everywhere I go, I see people staring at me.
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“When people say I’m black, I actually have a hard time believing it.
“I don’t feel dark at all – like I’m physically blind.”
Recently, Megan noticed a “spot” on her skin that she says is “constantly changing size.”
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Recently, Megan noticed a “blemish” on her skin that she says “constantly changes size” Credit: Kennedy News
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Teenage girl can’t imagine ever not using a tanning bed Credit: Kennedy News
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The new mark on Megan’s skin doesn’t worry her Credit: Kennedy News
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“I tried to go to the doctor five times, but I froze at the door.”
The teenager has finally weaned herself off the bed and has at least three days off every week.
“I want to stop one day, but I can’t imagine not going to sunbeds,” she explained.
“I wouldn’t recommend anyone to do this. You could end up addicted without realizing it like me.”
Megan said her views on tanning beds have changed and she is now warning the younger generation to stay away from tanning beds.
She said: “If I could go back in time, I would never have started.
“I just feel like I have to go to the tanning bed – it’s not even a case of wanting a tan anymore.”
Megan said her addiction is so bad that she has a hard time turning off her bed once she’s inside.
“I don’t even like going to the sunbeds, I’m afraid of that, but I feel that I physically have to continue,” she added.
“The younger generation seems to be using it [sunbeds] more than the older generation, which is worrying because if I became addicted without being aware of it, then the same could happen to other people.”
dr. Nyla Raja, aesthetic practitioner and medical director of Nyla Medispa, warned that of all the resurgent beauty trends, the increase in the use of tanning beds was “the most worrying and dangerous”.
She said: “From a purely aesthetic point of view, tanning beds contribute to premature aging (fine lines and wrinkles) and hyperpigmentation.
“From a health care standpoint, they are potentially lethal.”
Solariums expose the skin to concentrated ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
“This overexposure to UV radiation can damage the DNA in your skin cells, dramatically increasing your risk of developing skin cancer, including melanoma, the deadliest form,” Dr Nyla told The Sun.
“In fact, using a tanning bed before the age of 30 can increase the risk of melanoma by up to 75 percent,” she added.
Megan admitted that before, she used the solarium to sunbathe to give herself a deeper glow.
Tanning injections, which often contain melanotan, “are just as dangerous,” explained Dr. Nyla.
“They are unregulated, often sold illegally and can lead to serious side effects such as nausea, kidney damage and abnormal skin growths.
“What is particularly alarming is that these injections stimulate the production of pigment in the skin, which can mask early signs of skin cancer, delaying diagnosis and treatment.”
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Megan’s addiction is so bad that she has a hard time turning off her bed once she’s in Credit: Kennedy News
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She was called names by strangers online Credit: Kennedy News
‘I receive hate’
Meghan’s appearance has sparked debate online – with trolls branding her a ‘burnt chip’ and a ‘coin’.
One person said of Megan’s tan: “A chip that fell off the tray in the oven and I forgot about it.”
Another added: “You know when you get those really dirty twopence coins.”
A third said, “I did [the sunbeds] cremate you?”
Reacting to the criticism, Megan said: “My family says I’m too dark. I see a lot of comments online and I don’t really care what people think.
“I received hate through TikTok.
“At the time I thought the video that went viral looked nice and I wondered why I got so much hate, but now I realize why and that the video didn’t actually look nice at all.”
However, Megan has received a few words of encouragement from the internet’s reaction and support in her bid to ditch the sunbeds.
One person said: “You’re beautiful anyway and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
Another added: “You are beautiful in every possible way. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. So proud of you.”
Do tanning beds cause skin cancer?
There are an estimated 2,000 tanning salons in Britain, with some offering treatments from as little as 70p a minute.
Sunbeds emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation, just like the sun.
Too much UV radiation from the sun or tanning beds causes skin cancer.
If you want a tan, using fake tan from a bottle or tanning spray is safer than using a tanning bed or tanning bed, says cancer research.
It is added that there is no such thing as safe UV tanning.
Since 2010, people under the age of 18 have been prohibited from using solariums.
And it is an offense for any company that offers UV tanning services to people under the age of 18.
What is the probability of getting cancer from tanning beds?
Too much UV radiation is the third biggest cause of cancer and the main cause of skin cancer in the UK.
Every time you use a tanning bed, you damage your skin and increase the risk of skin cancer.
The good news is that around nine out of 10 cases of melanoma skin cancer in the UK can be prevented by safe exposure to the sun and avoiding tanning beds.
Source: Cancer Research UK
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education