Why so many young women are risking their lives for a sunbed tan thanks to Love Island and TikTok By Sadie Nicholas for the Daily Mail Published: 12:36 EDT, 26 June 2024 | Updated: 07:10 EDT, 27 June 2024 e-mail View comments For the past five years, Gemma Hall, 24, has kept a controversial appointment two or three times almost every week. Although she says these sessions make her feel ‘calmer’ when stressed and boost her confidence, her parents, for a start, are concerned. Gemma is one of the surprising new generation of sunbed devotees.
A bright and articulate criminology graduate, she is well aware she is risking skin cancer , but ploughs on regardless. Such is her desire for the perma-tanned look popularised by the likes of Love Island stars — not to mention influencers paid by tanning brands to plug their products. ‘I feel more confident with a tan and my clothes look nicer,’ explains Gemma, a careers advisor from Manchester.
‘My friends use them too so it doesn’t feel like a big deal. And I like the fact that a tan from a sunbed lasts longer than fake tan, is obviously natural and I can see the results almost straight away rather than having to wait for it to develop over several hours.’ As for the substantial risk of skin cancer — sunbed exposure before the age of 35 has been proven to increase the risk of malignant melanoma by as much as 75 per cent — she is aware but undeterred.
Criminology graduate Gemma Hall, 24, says her weekly tanning habit ma.
