I’ve spent £54k on sunbeds, even when I lived in hostels – my cancer scare didn’t stop me, says Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace
AS she reclines on a sunbed at her favourite tanning salon, Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace lets out a satisfied sigh of relief.
Not only is she giving her tan a welcome top-up, she’s also “high” on the endorphin rush she says she experiences every time she treats herself to a sunbed session.
“Some people drink wine to relax, I have my sunbeds,” says the former Big Brother contestant.
“They make me feel uplifted and invigorated. They are much more addictive than booze.”
Aisleyne isn’t alone in using the controversial tanning machines. More than a quarter of Brits use sunbeds, according to a new study, with many unaware of the risks.
A poll by the charity Melanoma Focus found 28 per cent of 16 to 65-year-olds use sunbeds, and while 62 per cent are aware they can increase the risk of skin cancer, 38 per cent are oblivious to the dangers.
Self-confessed tanning addict Aisleyne was just 17 when she started using sunbeds.
The reality TV star, 45, initially used them once every couple of months, but now does so up to twice a week.
Incredibly, she estimates that she has spent around £54,000 on more than 2,600 sunbed sessions during her lifetime. And despite a skin cancer scare, she is showing no signs of stopping.
“I’m addicted,” she admits. “I started using them after working with a gorgeous girl in a shop. She always had a tan and I felt so pasty next to her.
“I was living in hostels at the time, but I would save up the money and have them once a month, or every two months.
“Now I use them once a week, but if I have a big event, I’ll use them twice a week for four weeks beforehand.”
Each 10-15-minute session costs her £20, For Aisleyne, it’s about more than getting a golden glow — it’s how the sessions make her feel.
“To me, the endorphin high is worth more,” she says. “I give myself these little momentary drips of joy and it only costs me a few quid.”
Sunbeds use high-intensity artificial UV radiation for quick tanning and can damage skin cells.
This could lead to skin cancer — including melanoma, the most dangerous type. After a skin cancer scare following her stint on Big Brother in 2006, she is all
too aware of the risks.
Dying For A Tan
There are an estimated 7,000 tanning salons in Britain, with some offering sessions from as little as 50p a minute.
Kids as young as EIGHT are using sunbeds, with seemingly little understanding they are playing Russian Roulette with their health.
According to Cancer Research UK, Melanoma skin cancer risk is 16-25 per cent higher in people who have used a sunbed (at any age), compared to people who have never used sunbeds.
This is because sunbeds pelt the skin with such strong UV rays which increase the risk of developing malignant melanoma – the most serious form of skin cancer.
Just 20 minutes on one is comparable to four hours in the sun – with many stronger than Mediterranean rays at midday.
In many cases the damage is invisible until it’s too late, as it can take up to 20 years to become apparent.
It’s part of the reason the World Health Organisation has deemed sunbeds are as dangerous as smoking.
This is why Fabulous says it is time to stop Dying For A Tan.
‘Definitely ageing’
She says: “I discovered a weird shaped lump on my leg after sunbathing in the Big Brother house. It was like a mole and it came up after tanning in natural sunlight.
“But after getting it checked out, I found it wasn’t cancerous.” Despite that wake-up call, Aisleyne, from North London, still manages to justify her regular trips to the tanning salon.
You could get hit by a bus tomorrow, you can get cancer in other ways, you just don’t know
“Even though I know they are dangerous, I have them.
“You could get hit by a bus tomorrow, you can get cancer in other ways, you just don’t know.
“Why not enjoy yourself while you are here, have a sunbed and look your best?”
She admits her use of sunbeds has taken its toll on her skin.
“The sunbeds are definitely ageing and I do notice it when I do too many of them back to back,” she confesses.
“But I counteract that with Botox and facial skin boosters (hyaluronicc acid injections to help skin texture) I do on myself because I’ve got an aesthetics business.
“But when I see the fine lines popping up because I have rinsed the beds too much then it’s like a wakeup call and I try to slow them down a little bit.”
Concerned fans have criticised her for posting sunbed snaps on social media and some got her pictures banned from Instagram.
“I’ve had trolls telling me to stop going on sunbeds,” she reveals. “They say I’m promoting something that I shouldn’t be.”
Tanning is big business — the UK has 3,000 to 5,000 salons, with the industry worth an estimated £1billion annually.
I’ve had trolls telling me to stop going on sunbeds
Despite the health risks, the cost and the criticism, Aisleyne has no plans to ditch the habit.
She says: “I’ve spent a fortune on sunbeds and I’m not planning to stop. It makes me feel good and, to me, that is more important than the risks.”
‘IT’S WAY BETTER THAN FAKE TAN’
MUM-OF-TWO Jade Diamond, 26, uses sunbeds every other day and claims they boost her self-esteem.
The teaching assistant, who lives in Milton Keynes with partner Frazer Budd, 29, a builder, says: “I first started using sunbeds before a family holiday in Turkey last May, because I didn’t want to look like a ghost on the beach.
“Before then, I would only tan naturally, or use tanning lotion – but my fake tan would never look evenly spread out.
“I never really knew about sunbeds until people on TikTok started taking pictures of themselves on them, before showing off their glowing tans.
“When I spoke to friends, they revealed they would go on sunbeds before a holiday, too.
“A lot of my generation think fake tan is a bit ‘old school’ and that sunbeds are way better.
“When I tried it before my holiday, it was a total game changer.
“It also lifted my mood instantly – it was just how it feels after being on holiday. Now, I have a 12-minute session every other day, paying an upfront fee of £44 for a total of 60 minutes.
“I’m a size 16 since having my two kids, but getting a tan has helped give me my confidence back.
“Sunbeds have also helped clear up the eczema on my arms and legs.
“My generation isn’t really aware of the dangers of sunbeds.
“And surely they can’t be that bad, otherwise why would there be so many tanning salons around?”
‘MORE DANGEROUS THAN SUN’
SKIN cancer expert Dr Ross Perry, medical director of Cosmedics skin clinics, blames social media for glamorising the use of sunbeds.
He says: “Sunbeds are incredibly dangerous.
“No tan is a safe tan unless it comes out of a bottle. We know that UV rays from the sun can be harmful if we don’t protect our skin.
“UV radiation from sunbeds is no different.
“They can ultimately increase the risk of getting skin cancer by 20 per cent.
“Let’s also not forget the premature ageing caused by UV radiation. Using a sunbed, even in moderation, will damage the skin.
“In fact, there are some studies to suggest that using sunbeds is more dangerous than sitting in the midday summer sun abroad.”