Teen sunbed addict ‘can’t cease’ and will not exit except she’s ‘darkish sufficient’

Megan Blain – who began using sunbeds at 16 – admits her addiction has taken over her life and left her with alarming skin changes – but she won’t quit the habit

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A teenager who developed a sunbed addiction at just 16 says she is unable to stop even after noticing worrying changes to her skin.

Megan Blain, now 19, admits that fears over skin cancer are finally hitting home – yet she still can’t break the habit.

Sunbed use initially served as a confidence booster for Megan following years of bullying, but she now says it is a “compulsion” that dominates her daily life and she has refused to leave the house because she hasn’t felt “dark enough”.

“I wasn’t scared or bothered about the risks,” she said. “The addiction took hold of me.”

Megan, from Seaham, County Durham, began using sunbeds in her mid-teens, pursuing a deeper tan that made her feel more at ease with herself.

After battling with self-esteem issues, she says the transformation was immediate. Seeing herself with a darker complexion instilled a level of confidence she had never previously felt.

However, what began as a morale boost soon became something she depended on. At her most extreme, Megan was tanning every single day, sometimes for up to half an hour at a time and supplementing this with tanning injections and creams to enhance the effect.

She said: “It got to the point where it started affecting every part of my life.

“I didn’t go to my own prom because I didn’t feel dark enough, and I turned down job opportunities, even modelling, all because I didn’t think I looked ‘tanned enough’. The reality is, I actually am under contract for modelling now, which is really good money, and I earn through TikTok too, especially from my live videos, while also working part-time in a sunbed shop.

“I spend around £30 a month on tanning now, which is nothing compared to what I used to spend, sometimes over £100 a month, but even with everything going for me, the addiction still has a hold over my decisions. It got to a point where I wouldn’t leave the house unless I felt tanned enough,” she said.

“It wasn’t even about looking good anymore, it felt like something I needed just to function.” Nearly four years later, the consequences are becoming increasingly difficult to overlook.

Megan reveals she has developed numerous moles throughout her body, some of which have altered in form, emerged unexpectedly, or behaved in ways that have begun to worry her. She said: “Moles would appear, disappear, and change shapes, but I didn’t care at the time because I was so wrapped up in the addiction.

“I wasn’t scared of the risks at all; the addiction had completely taken hold of me. But over the last few months, as I’ve started to gain a bit more control, it has crossed my mind more and more.”

Despite her concerns, she confesses she still hasn’t managed to seek medical help. Megan continued: “I still haven’t been to the doctors.

“The last time I tried, I froze at the door. It was like something wouldn’t let me go in, like I didn’t actually want the help or to change.

“Sunbeds are my only source of confidence now. It’s just part of my routine, it feels normal to me.

“I’ve stopped the tanning injections and cut down on the beds, so I am trying, but it’s not easy.” She also disclosed the emotional impact of sharing her story online.

She said: “I’ve had so many hurtful comments. At first, it really got to me, but now I try to ignore the hate.

“People probably think tan addiction isn’t real. But for me, it absolutely is.”

Despite reducing her usage, Megan said the prospect of stopping entirely still feels daunting. “I do think I’ll stop one day. But it’s going to take time.”

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