NOT TAN-TASTIC
‘Don’t underestimate the power of sunbeds’ influencer issues stark summer warning after addiction left her in A&E
At one point, the woman was convinced that this would be 'the end' for her
A BEAUTY lover has issued a stark warning after her extreme addiction to sunbeds left her in A&E.
The use of sunbeds has long been linked to skin cancer and premature ageing - but despite the dangers, recent data by Treatwell revealed that Brits love to roast under the harmful UV rays more than ever.
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Although sunbeds have been banned in some countries, such as Australia and Brazil, the research showed that in 2023, the bookings for sunbed and tanning booths in the UK increased by 8% from the previous year.
But one person who is here to raise awareness about the dangers of sunbeds is a woman named Kirst, who recently shared her horror story on TikTok.
The blonde stunner, who urged fellow beauty lovers to not ''underestimate the power of sunbeds'', said that at one point she had become addicted to having a bronzed complexion.
According to the young woman, she would pop on a sunbed five days a week, each time roasting for 15 minutes ''to maintain a tan''.
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''All I ever wanted was to be naturally tanned,'' she said in .
At the time, Kirst confessed, she never really thought much of any potential and scarring consequences - despite how often others would warn her.
It’s awful how they’re still legal in this country, they’re so dangerous
Kirst
After all, she said, there were people who ''live in hot countries, like Australia, Dubai, Thailand'' and are always ''around heat'' - which made her 15 minutes five days a week look like nothing.
Kirst, who posts under the username @, also strongly believed that covering her ''sensitive areas'' and ever her ''hair'' made it impossible ''for anything bad to happen''.
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As time went on, the blonde beauty developed an addiction of sporting a tan and would even take snaps after every sunbed session - after all, it made her feel great about herself.
''I was literally obsessed, I finally started to feel confident because in my head having a tan equalled confidence and happiness.''
From Glow to Glare: The Sunbed Debate
However, one day Kirst's life turned upside down when she suddenly had a panic attack at work, ''struggling to breathe'' and with a mysterious lump in her body.
Looking back at the horrific day - which ultimately landed her in A&E - the young woman revealed she was convinced that ''it was going to be the end'' for her ''or something bad was going to happen''.
After long hours in the hospital and further scans at a breast clinic, Kirst was delivered the dreadful news that she had fibroadenoma, a solid breast lump.
Although fibroadenoma is not cancerous, experts have warned that is possible that a person may develop breast cancer out of a fibroadenoma - however, this is highly unlikely, .
The benign tumour that can develop in the breast tends to be more common in females and rare, but possible, in males.
Up to one in six - or 15 per cent - of women develop it at some point in their lives - however, there is still debate whether the use of sunbeds may have a link to causing the growth of the lump.
Whilst social media users insisted that fibroadenoma has got nothing to do with sunbeds, Kirst claimed that her doctor strongly believed it was the opposite.
''They can actually increase your chance of getting any lump,'' she wrote in the comment, advising others to be ''mindful if using'' sunbeds.
''It’s awful how they’re still legal in this country, they’re so dangerous,'' Kirst went on.
The deadly risks of sunbeds
According to the , there is significant evidence to show that using tanning beds causes melanoma.
They noted that sunbeds increase the risk of skin cancer by up to a staggering 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.''
''Sadly, there’s always a risk using them, all I can say is if you do don’t increase your minutes and don’t over do them - but always be mindful of the risks going on them.''
Kirst's story has since taken the platform by storm, with dozens racing to show support.
One said: ''Fibroadenoma is not related to sunbeds but maybe the scare is worth not doing it 5 days a week.''
Someone else chimed in, sharing their story: ''I was a sunbed user since I was 16.
''I just had skin cancer removed from my back, now treating 50% of my body with chemotherapy cream for sun damage.
''Wish I had never went near a sunbed. Hope you are ok.''
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Another wrote: ''I was using them nearly everyday for weeks on end, got so dark.
''Now I’m seeing a skin cancer specialist as I’ve got so many random lumps on my body, haven’t used the beds in 2 months now.''
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