“I started using sunbeds in 2014. I have chronic eczema on my hands and a friend told me they were good for helping to clear it up, so I thought I’d try it as a last resort – I’d tried everything – and as a bonus I’d get a tan. I didn’t bother getting advice from a dermatologist; to be honest I knew using sunbeds was bad for me but I didn’t want to listen to anyone tell me that.

The first time I went into my local tanning shop, the staff member recommended using a sunbed for 25 minutes at a time to help my eczema – the equivalent of a full day’s tan. So that’s what I carried on doing for three years whenever I could afford to, usually on a Sunday when there was a special offer.

At first my skin did get a little better, but after phases of using sunbeds, I realised I was in a vicious cycle. I was using a paraben cream prescribed by my doctor for my eczema, which seemed to make the sunbeds burn my skin more. This then made it peel even faster. I wanted to tan to disguise the peeling patches but they ended up red and blotchy. Once I realised the sunbeds were causing it, I went on a self-imposed ban.

It took around six months for my skintone to even out. Even now I still have some obvious patches on my face but I’ve finally admitted to myself that it wasn’t worth it. Ironically, it was aesthetics that made me start using sunbeds in the first place and it was the aesthetics that eventually made me stop.”

Why are so many of us still using sunbeds?