Sunbed users ‘unhappy with their looks’

MOST people who use sunbeds do so because they are insecure about their looks, according to a new study.Researchers found nearly half of young adults aged 18 to 34 who have used a sunbed are unhappy with their looks.

Almost a third stated that the reason they had used sunbeds was to look more attractive.

The survey for Cancer Research UK’s sunbed awareness campaign, R UV Ugly?, revealed more than eight in ten of 18-to-34-year-olds who used sunbeds, and are unhappy with their looks, felt they were under pressure to appear more attractive.

Young adults who had never used sunbeds were less likely to be unhappy with their appearance, with fewer than four in ten saying they want to look different.

Caroline Cerny, senior health campaigns manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “We live in an image-obsessed culture and know many sunbed users continue to use them because they think they look better with a tan. But they are making their skin look worse in the long run.”

The campaign is backed by Made in Chelsea model Rosie Fortescue, who is “happy to be pale”.

The charity has released a video highlighting the damage that sunbeds can do to skin.