A TEENAGE sunbed addict branded a 'dirty 2p piece' by trolls is struggling to quit even after spotting a suspicious mark.
Megan Blain fears a "patch" on her arm may be skin cancer but even this hasn’t persuaded her to ditch the habit for good.
A recent survey from revealed sunbed usage among people aged 18 to 25 years has risen to 43 per cent.
Experts think social media, mainly TikTok, is contributing to the concerning trend.
Melanoma - a type of skin cancer - is on the rise in the UK and around 100 deaths per year are linked to sunbed use.
The NHS warns sunbeds can be more dangerous than natural sunlight because they use a concentrated source of UV radiation, which damages cells.
Megan said the mark "doesn't faze" her, but she’s warning others not to fall into the same dangerous habit.
"I could have melanoma and it could turn into something life-threatening, it doesn't scare me at all,” she added.
The 18-year-old decided to swap fake tan bottles for sunbeds two years ago in a bid to achieve a “glamorous” dark look all year round.
Since then she has used a sunbed 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 on the street - and trolls compare her to a "dirty 2p piece" or “burnt chip” - but she still never feels dark enough.
She said: "Everywhere I go, I see people staring at me.
“When people say I'm dark, I actually find that hard to believe.
“I don't feel dark whatsoever - it's like I'm physically blind.”
More recently Megan spotted a “patch” on her skin which she says “keeps changing size”.
“I've tried to go to the doctor five times but keep freezing at the door."
The teen is finally weaning herself off the bed and has at least three days off each week.
"I want to stop one day but I can't ever imagine myself not going on the sunbeds,” she explained.
“I wouldn't recommend anyone to do this. You could end up addicted without even realising like me."
Megan said her views on sunbeds have changed and is now warning the younger generation to steer clear of tanning salons.
She said: “If I could go back in time, I would've never started.
“I just feel like I have to go on the sunbeds - it's not even a case of wanting to be tanned anymore."
Megan said her addiction is so bad she finds it hard to turn the bed off once she’s inside.
“I don't even like going on sunbeds, I dread it, but I feel like I physically have to go on,” she added.
"The younger generation seem to be using [sunbeds] more than the older generation which is concerning because If I got addicted without even realising it then the same could happen to other people.”
Dr Nyla Raja, an aesthetic practitioner and medical director of , warned that of all the beauty trends making a reemergence the increase in sunbed use is the "most concerning and dangerous".
She said: “From a purely aesthetic standpoint, sunbeds contribute to premature ageing (fine lines and wrinkles) and hyperpigmentation.
“From a healthcare standpoint, they are potentially deadly.”
Tanning beds expose the skin to concentrated ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
“This excessive UV exposure 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 tanning beds before the age of 30 can increase your melanoma risk by up to 75 per cent,” she added.
Megan admitted to using tanning jabs before using sunbeds to give herself a deeper glow.
Tanning injections, often containing melanotan, are “equally dangerous”, Dr Nyla explained.
“They are unregulated, often sold illegally, and can lead to severe side effects such as nausea, kidney damage, and the appearance of abnormal skin growths.
“What’s particularly alarming is that these injections stimulate pigment production in the skin, which can mask early signs of skin cancer, delaying diagnosis and treatment.”
Megan's appearance has sparked debate online - with trolls labelling her a 'burnt chip' and 'coin'.
One person said in regards to Megan's tanned skin colour: "The chips that fell off the tray in the oven and I forgot about."
Another added: "You know when you get those really dirty twop coins."
A third said: "Did [the sunbeds] cremate you?"
Reacting to the criticism, Megan said: "My family say I'm too dark. I see a lot of comments online and I do care what people think.
"I've received hate through TikTok.
"I thought the video that went viral looked nice at the time and wondered why I received so much hate but now I realise why and that the video actually didn't look nice at all."
However, Megan has received some words of encouragement against the online backlash and support in her journey to ditch the sunbeds.
One person said: "You're beautiful either way don't let anyone tell you any different."
Another added: "You're gorgeous in every way possible. Don't let anyone tell you differently. So proud of you."
There are an estimated 2,000 tanning salons in Britain, with some offering sessions from as little as 70p a minute.
Sunbeds give off ultraviolet (UV) radiation, just like the sun does.
Too much UV radiation from the sun or sunbeds causes skin cancer.
If you want a tan, using fake tan from a bottle or a spray tan is safer than using a sunbed or sunbathing, Cancer Research says.
It adds that there is no such thing as safe UV tanning.
Since 2010 it has been illegal for people under the age of 18 to use sunbeds.
And it is an offence for any business to offer UV tanning services to people under the age of 18.
How likely is getting cancer from sunbeds?
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 sunbed you are damaging your skin and increasing your risk of skin cancer.
The good news is that around nine in 10 cases of melanoma skin cancer in the UK could be prevented by staying safe in the sun and avoiding sunbeds.
Source: Cancer Research UK
