14 DAY TRIAL // Despite repeated warnings from health authorities, women continue to use sunbeds to get a tan, for far too extensive periods of time and without taking all necessary precautions. One such case is Katie Edwards from the UK who spent three weekly sessions on a sunbed for almost seven years – and the results are just now showing, part of her neck and the area under her eyes having become discolored and raw, as she reveals to the Daily Mail.
Edwards has started using a sunbed for a fake tan ever since she was a teen and, by her own admission, she always thought she was being responsible enough, never spending more than nine minutes per session on it. What she never imagined she was forgetting was the recommended eye protection, the lack of which led to the sensitive skin under the eyes being badly affected by the exposure. The increased time she spent on a sunbed also caused serious damage to her neck – and, what’s worse, none of this will ever go away, as dermatologists have told her the damage done is irreversible.
“Although I’ve never worn eye protection, I controlled my sunbed use carefully and thought I was being responsible. Then two months ago I climbed out of my stepdad’s sunbed, looked in the mirror and saw these horrible marks around my eyes. My neck started with lines of pale skin and then it spread to form one big patch. I’ve had tests and am relieved the damage isn’t skin cancer but it has changed my life. I won’t leave the house without piling on makeup and wearing my reading glasses, and I’ve lost my self confidence. It got so bad that my GP has prescribed anti-depressants.” Edwards says for the British publication.
Because she would dread to know other women go through the same horrendous experience as she, Edwards is now urging anyone who reads or learns of her story to stay away from sunbeds. She has learned the hard way that a fake spray-on tan is a much better option than risking getting skin cancer or this type of permanent damage. Of course, this is also what health experts have also been saying for quite some time, but Edward hopes her example will serve as a lesson to all those women who are not so easily convinced by words or even figures (data recently made public shows that the number of skin cancer diagnoses in the UK has reached alarming quotas).
“Using a sunbed three times a week continuously over a prolonged period is over-use and frankly quite stupid. Anyone using sunbeds on a regular basis really must use protective goggles.” Kathy Banks of the Sunbed Association also points out for the same publication.