WHY ARE WE STILL USING SUNBEDS?

A third of us are using harmful UV rays to maintain a ‘healthy’ glow

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When we think about sunbeds, most of us immediately think back to the 80s and 90s, when it wasn’t unusual for people to walk around sporting perma-tans, courtesy of a few minutes cooking under powerful UV bulbs in a salon. But since then, with more education, you might assume the numbers have dwindled, especially with so many good fake tans on the market.

But the sad reality is that, in recent years, the number of tanning salons has not only increased, but younger people seem even keener to get a sun-kissed glow year-round. A recent survey* found 28% of adults in the UK use sunbeds. More shockingly, among 18 to 25-year-olds, that number increases to almost half (43%), influenced by terrifying TikTok trends that attempt to link sunbed use to ‘wellness’. But many doctors worry that any ‘wellness’ benefits are far outweighed by risks. Woman's Own takes a closer look, and speaks to a husband who hopes that by sharing his wife's story, lives may be saved...

‘SHE WAS A WOMAN ON A MISSION’

Ste Smith, 57, lives in Wigan. He has two sons, Harry, 25, and Robbie, 23, and was married to their mother, Anthea, for 22 years.