OPINION: Sunbeds aren’t worth the sacrifices

With the rise of social media came the surge of extreme beauty trends, encouraging dangerous ways of achieving the so-called beauty standard.

We’ve watched as videos of people joining in on the ‘Kylie Jenner lip challenge’ emerged, as well as botched surgery horror stories of the most dangerous cosmetic procedure the ‘BBL’, not forgetting the diet pills that are incessantly promoted to young audiences. One beauty trend, however, that seems to fly under the radar of being quite so extreme, is the use of tanning beds.

Whilst the height of popularity for sunbed use is often associated with the nineties and noughties, it appears to have gained popularity once again, this time with Gen Z. The dangers, whilst acknowledged, have not been a deterrent for younger generations, as sunbeds trend once again.

Even with studies, as told by the Skin Cancer Foundation, showing that the risk of developing life-threatening skin cancer increases by 75% from just one sunbed session before the age of 35, videos on sunbed hacks and tips are easily accessible, encouraging and normalising this way of tanning. With many choosing to take the risk, it seems unlikely that indoor tanning will be joining the extreme trend cohort any time soon.

On platforms such as Tik Tok, users express their “addiction” to using sunbeds, whilst, at the same time, others share horror stories consequential of the same means of tanning. It seems, despite so many revelations into just how dangerous sunbeds are, tanning this way still doesn’t evoke the same shock factor as other trends we deem ridiculous and dangerous.

With so many other ways of developing and maintaining a tan available, is there any real need for sunbeds to be so easily accessed and promoted?

Products such as gradual moisturisers and self-tanning drops are typically affordable and so easily added to any skincare routine, so is there any excuse to opt for a potentially life-altering alternative? It seems our attitude towards such a dangerous beauty treatment needs to change drastically, in order to protect further generations from the risks imposed by using tanning beds.

Edited by Olivia Warburton