Megan has spotted signs of serious damage but won’t stop tanning
A teenager who became addicted to sunbeds at just 16 now fears she could be facing the consequences after noticing alarming changes to her skin. Megan Blain, 19, says concerns about skin cancer are finally starting to sink in – but is still unable to quit.
Using sunbeds began as a way to boost her confidence after years of bullying but she now describes it as a “compulsion”, one that now controls much of her daily life. I wasn’t scared or bothered about the risks,” she said. “The addiction took hold of me.”
Megan, from Seaham, County Durham, first started using sunbeds in her mid-teens, chasing a deeper tan that made her feel more comfortable in her own skin. After struggling with confidence growing up, she says the change felt instant.
Seeing herself with darker skin – especially in bright colours – gave her a confidence she had never experienced before. But what started as a boost quickly became something she relied on. At her peak, Megan was tanning every single day, sometimes for up to 30 minutes at a time, often combining it with tanning injections and creams to intensify the results.
Over time, the habit stopped being about appearance, and became something she felt she physically needed. “It got to the point where it started affecting every part of my life. I didn’t go to my own prom because I didn’t feel dark enough, and I turned down job opportunities, even modelling, all because I didn’t think I looked ‘tanned enough.’
“The reality is, I actually am under contract for modelling now, which is really good money, and I earn through TikTok too, especially from my live videos, while also working part-time in a sunbed shop. I spend around £30 a month on tanning now, which is nothing compared to what I used to spend, sometimes over £100 a month, but even with everything going for me, the addiction still has a hold over my decisions.
“It got to a point where I wouldn’t leave the house unless I felt tanned enough,” she said. “It wasn’t even about looking good anymore, it felt like something I needed just to function.”
Nearly four years on, the damage is becoming harder to ignore. Megan says she has developed multiple moles across her body, some of which have changed shape, appeared suddenly, or behaved in ways that have started to concern her.
“Moles would appear, disappear, and change shapes, but I didn’t care at the time because I was so wrapped up in the addiction. I wasn’t scared of the risks at all; the addiction had completely taken hold of me,” she said.
“But over the last few months, as I’ve started to gain a bit more control, it has crossed my mind more and more.”
Despite her fears, she admits she has still not managed to seek medical help. “I still haven’t been to the doctors. The last time I tried, I froze at the door. It was like something wouldn’t let me go in, like I didn’t actually want the help or to change.
“Sunbeds are my only source of confidence now. It’s just part of my routine, it feels normal to me. I’ve stopped the tanning injections and cut down on the beds, so I am trying, but it’s not easy.”
She also revealed the emotional toll of sharing her journey online. “I’ve had so many hurtful comments,” she says. “At first, it really got to me, but now I try to ignore the hate. People probably think tan addiction isn’t real. But for me, it absolutely is.”
Despite cutting down, Megan admits sunbeds remain deeply tied to her sense of self, and the idea of stopping completely still feels overwhelming. Now, she finds herself caught between two realities: the confidence the habit once gave her, and the growing fear of what it may have done to her body.
“I do think I’ll stop one day,” she says. “But it’s going to take time.”
