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SHOCKING RESEARCH FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION REVEALS THAT WOMEN UNDER 35 USING SUNBEDS ARE 75 PER CENT MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP SKIN CANCER – AND DENISE VAN OUTEN RECENTLY CONFESSED THAT TANNING HAD SCARRED HER FACE. WE CHALLENGED A FAMILY OF TAN ADDICTS FROM LONDON – JOAN BREECH AND HER FOUR DAUGHTERS – TO FIND OUT WHAT SUNBEDS ARE DOING TO THEIR HEALTH. SKIN EXPERT JANE LEWIS STUDIED THEIR FACES UNDER A UV LAMP TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE…

By Eimear O'Hagan

Name: Kelly Breech
Age: 21
Occupation: Administrative assistant
Has used sunbeds for: Three years
Frequency: Once a week
The expert’s verdict: ”Kelly’s lips are dehydrated. If she continues to use sunbeds, they will thin and lose their colour. Her neck is lined – she needs to protect this area.”
Kelly’s response: “If I wasn’t tanned, I’d be the odd one out in my family. Sunbeds are just part of normal life for me. It’s not nice to hear that my skin is ageing more quickly than normal, but I won’t give up my tan.”

 

Name: Sarah-Jayne Breech
Age: 18
Occupation: Not working
Has used sunbeds for: Four years
Frequency: Twice a week
The expert’s verdict: “The skin above Sarah-Jayne’s lip is dehydrated and pigmentation shows there is damage to her forehead. Her self-esteem appears to be tied up with her skin colour, which is concerning.”
Sarah-Jayne’s response: “My tan gives me confidence. I’m pleased to hear I don’t have a lot of damage to my face. I’m more bothered about getting wrinkles than skin cancer. When you’re young it’s hard to worry about getting old.”

 

Name: Jennifer Breech
Age: 22
Occupation: Full-time mum
Has used sunbeds for: Six years
Frequency: Up to seven times a week – without protective goggles.
The expert’s verdict: “There is pigmentation across the forehead and in the eye area. Jennifer has lines under her eyes which we wouldn’t expect on a young woman. Not using goggles means she’s risking her sight. She could develop cataracts.”
Jennifer’s response: “I don’t wear goggles because I don’t want white rings around my eyes. Sight problems are a worry, though, so I’ll start wearing them now.“

 

Name: Joan Breech
Age: 46
Occupation: Administration manager
Has used sunbeds for: 25 years
Frequency: Twice a week
The expert’s verdict: “Joan looks 10 years older than she is. Her neck and eyelids are sagging. Her skin is lifeless and in very poor condition.”
Joan’s response: “Seeing the pictures of myself under the UV light shocked me – my skin looks horrible. I’m definitely not going to use sunbeds any more.”

 

Name: Jo Breech
Age: 29
Occupation: Beautician
Has used sunbeds for: Twelve years
Frequency: Three times a week
The expert’s verdict: “Jo’s skin is becoming slack and losing elasticity. She has lines across her forehead, wrinkles around her eyes and damage to the delicate eye area.”
Jo’s response: “I don’t agree with Jane that sunbeds are ageing me – I can’t see any wrinkles on my face. If I look as good as my mum does at her age, I’ll be happy.”

 

Do you use sunbeds? Do the latest health scares put you off? Do you think it's worth risking your health for a tan? When you're on holiday, in the sun, do you think about the dangers?

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Photography: Lanton; Hair & Make-Up: Oonagh Connor; Styling: Lauren Ezekiel; Jane Lewis is leading dermatological nurse and development director for Sk:n Clinics.

See sknclinics.co.uk or call 0800 028 7222 for information