logo
I ruined my skin on sunbeds – I was thinking about Botox but a £15 Boots buy worked wonders on my forehead wrinkles

I ruined my skin on sunbeds – I was thinking about Botox but a £15 Boots buy worked wonders on my forehead wrinkles

The Irish Sun03-06-2025

A BEAUTY buff has shared how she banished her forehead wrinkles for good after ageing her skin with sunbeds.
Despite long being linked to cancer and banned in countries such as Australia and Brazil,
Advertisement
2
Former sunbed user Chloe shared the shocking skin damage on TikTok - and how she got rid of the deep lines for good
Credit: TIKTOK/@chloe.w.hite
2
According to the beauty buff, it's all thanks to a bargain product
Credit: TIKTOK/@chloe.w.hite
Last year, a survey by the charity Melanoma Focus found that
use sunbeds, rising to a whopping 43 per cent among 18 to 25-year-olds.
In another
from Skin Health Alliance, 60 per cent of young people admitted to sunbed use, with 25 per cent using them on a frequent basis.
But while
just one sunbed session can increase the risk of developing squamous cell
skin cancer
by 67 per cent
, it's also worth remembering the skin ageing factor.
Sunbeds emit extremely high levels of UV radiation, which damages the skin's collagen and elastin fibres, leading to wrinkles and a loss of elasticity,
Advertisement
read more on beauty
The
One former beauty buff, Chloe White, recently took to TikTok where she showed the damage caused by soaking up the harmful UV rays - as well as how she drastically improved the appearance of her skin.
''I used to use the sunbeds and it aged my skin a lot quicker than I wanted to,'' the young woman said in
As well as saying goodbye to sunbeds, Chloe began to take better care of her skin - which also included using retinol.
Advertisement
Most read in Fabulous
Ideal to start incorporating into your routine as you approach your mid to late 20s, retinol increases skin cell production.
As well as unclogging pores, it also exfoliates your skin and increases collagen production, which can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving your skin a fresher, plump appearance.
Tan fan shows off shocking damage after just 15 minutes on a sunbed
While the high street is full of different retinols to suit every budget, there are also more affordable options - such as
The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion Serum, £15.20 at Boots.
''Look at my forehead now - compare to that picture.
Advertisement
''I was actually thinking about getting
''And it was worked so, so unbelievably well for tightening up my skin.''
The blonde beauty went on: ''The only thing that I didn't know when I started using it is that you do have to wear SPF as well, because it makes your skin more sensitive to the sun.
''But yeah, it's worked amazing compared to what my wrinkles used to look like,'' said Chloe, adding it too her just two weeks to see results.
Advertisement
''I actually promise I have no filter on my skin, my sister in law came over and she's in her 30's BEST SKIN EVER and that's what she said she uses, never looked back,'' said the TikTok who posts under the username @
Risks of sunbeds
THE promise of a constant glowing tan is too tempting for some people to deny.
But while popping to the sunbed shop may seem harmless, people who use tanning beds should be aware of the risks.
Approximately 10 per cent of the population of Northern Europe use sunbeds on a regular basis, the World Health Organization says.
Some people use them for years on end, accumulating risk of serious disease.
We are here to give you the lowdown on sunbeds and if they are safe to use.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), sunbeds are as dangerous as smoking.
Like the sun, they give out harmful UV rays that damage the DNA in your skin cells.
Over time, this may lead to malignant
According to the
They report that sunbeds increase the risk of skin cancer by up to 20 per cent, and also state that they have no positive benefits to our health.
Cancer Research back this statistic, adding that " there is no such thing as a safe tan from UV radiation".
One study found that sunbeds can almost
While some people think tanning beds are safer than sitting out in the midday sun, according to
The Sunbed Association claim there is not enough evidence to link sunbed use with melanoma, adding: "It is over-exposure and
But the WHO says: "The majority of tanning parlours provide inadequate advice to their customers.
"The use of eye protection such as goggles or sunglasses should be mandatory.
"However, as sunbed users aim to have an even tan, they often decide against protecting any part of their body."
Referring to the link with skin cancer, the world health experts add: "Sunbeds for self-tanning purposes have been available for the last two decades and due to the long latency period for
"Even though the causes of malignant melanoma are not fully understood, tumour development appears to be linked to occasional exposure to intense sunlight.
"Sunbeds subject their users to intermittent high exposures of UVA and UVB radiation – this may provide the ideal setting for the development of malignant skin cancer.
"However, the few epidemiological studies that have been carried out to date have not provided any consistent results."
Despite the WHO's cautious stance on the skin cancer link, it discourages the use of sunbeds, quoting an expert who said the use of tanning parlours is like "an industrial-scale radiation exposure experiment".
Regardless of skin cancer, sunbeds don't just have long-term health risks.
Users have reported a range of short-term symptoms including itching, dryness and redness of skin, freckling and photosensitivity.
Common outcomes in the longer term, especially in fair-skinned people, may involve blistering of the skin.
"
How to use retinol?
The beauty bag must-have, a form of vitamin A, is to be added to your evening skincare routine - and never in the morning.
Before you use a retinol product for the first time, do a patch test on a small area of your skin to see if you have any negative reactions.
If, after a couple of days, your skin patch isn't very red or itchy, you can safely add it to the skincare regimen.
Advertisement
Fabulous' Beauty Editor,
Once you wash your face in the morning, pile on the nourishing products, too.
The golden rule is that less is more. Less product - a pea-sized amount should cover your whole face, using more won't make it work faster - and less frequently.
Start with one night a week, then after a few weeks, once you know your skin is tolerating it, scale up to twice a week for a few more weeks and so on.
Advertisement
Don't be disheartened if your skin can only handle it every other night, you'll still be reaping the rewards and it's better to use it consistently over a longer period than ramp it up and have to take a break because your skin reacts.
Avoid sensitive areas, like around your eyes and lips, as that's almost guaranteed to cause problems, and our skin is porous so enough of the product will creep towards both when applied further away.
If you're impatient, retinal works faster than retinol - yes, one letter makes all the difference.
Both have to convert into retinoic acid before unleashing their skincare benefits, and the former is one step further in that process, which many dermatologists I've spoken to mean it's also kinder to skin, and better tolerated by those of us with sensitive complexions.
Advertisement

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Mum warns never to kiss babies on lips as son left with life-changing injuries
Mum warns never to kiss babies on lips as son left with life-changing injuries

Dublin Live

timea day ago

  • Dublin Live

Mum warns never to kiss babies on lips as son left with life-changing injuries

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An Irish mother is sending out an urgent plea to the public to refrain from kissing babies, sharing the harrowing experience of her own son contracting the herpes simplex virus through a cold sore. Jed Scanlon, now three years old, was taken to the hospital urgently by his parents Amanda, 39, and David, 40, after he started running a high fever. Doctors at the hospital diagnosed the young lad with herpes simplex and encephalitis, reports the Irish Mirror. The virus has tragically left Jed with severe learning difficulties due to its attack on his brain. Amanda, from Derry, said that before his illness, Jed was excelling and surpassing his developmental milestones until the age of six months. She said: "When he was diagnosed, I didn't realise the complications he was going to be left with. The virus attacked his brain instead of the immune system and left him with an acquired brain injury. "He has significant brain damage to his temple lobes and a rare form of epilepsy caused by the damage. They didn't know if he'd be able to walk or talk. (Image: Jam Press/@jedsjourney) "We were absolutely devastated. We couldn't believe it. We were in shock. I knew cold sores were dangerous but I didn't know the extent to leave someone with brain damage." The little boy experiences seizures every night and cannot speak. Medical professionals are tirelessly working to manage Jed's seizures but remain uncertain about what lies ahead in his future. Jed is currently receiving occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy treatments. His mother Amanda, who works as a hospital housekeeper, said: "Before this, he was thriving. (Image: Jam Press/@jedsjourney) "He was rolling over, he was meeting all his milestones and he was so smart. Jed could give me a high five at five-months-old which is amazing. "When he was diagnosed, it wasn't a great prognosis. They hadn't met any cases like Jed and they didn't have a great outlook on his life. "He has development delays and he's non verbal. We don't know what his future looks like. He can walk and finger feed himself. Jed is full of life and he's constantly up to mischief. You need eyes on the back of your head to watch him." Amanda shares Jed's journey on her TikTok page Jedsjourney, aiming to raise awareness about the risks associated with kissing newborns. She added: "I want to raise awareness of how dangerous cold sores can actually be. "Don't kiss anyone's baby even if you don't have a cold sore, especially not on the lips. It never crossed my mind not to let people kiss him, I just made people wash their hands but cold sores never came into my head. "We don't remember Jed being around anyone with a cold sore but you don't need to be able to see the coldsore to have the virus. Once you get the virus it lives dormant and can flare up any time. "Me and David don't get cold sores and never have. We try not to dwell on where he picked it up from because it won't achieve much. Babies could also get the virus from someone sneezing or coughing around him. You have to be really careful." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.

‘Runners don't think about sun cream': Parkrun director on painful skin condition
‘Runners don't think about sun cream': Parkrun director on painful skin condition

Sunday World

timea day ago

  • Sunday World

‘Runners don't think about sun cream': Parkrun director on painful skin condition

'I'm not looking for sympathy. But I thought: 'If I show my face and tell people what it is, then maybe they'll learn from it,'' Eric is known at the Waterworks Parkrun for singing and wearing a backwards baseball cap, which will now be front-facing A Co Antrim runner is attempting to raise awareness for a painful skin condition caused by sun damage, after he was diagnosed with actinic keratosis earlier this year. Eric Montgomery (68) is a familiar face at Waterworks Parkrun in Belfast, where he has been a volunteer and participant since the event's beginnings 15 years ago. However, on Saturday, he marked a milestone with a difference — returning as run director for the 700th Waterworks event, just days after finishing a gruelling three-week course of treatment that left his face raw, red and inflamed. 'I just wanted to give people a heads-up so they're not traumatised when they see my bake,' he wrote in a now-viral Facebook post to the Parkrun community, attaching a photo of his blistered skin. 'Please, always slap sun cream on your gob.' Eric running for Lagan Valley AC in 2023 Actinic keratosis, also known as solar keratosis, is a rough, scaly patch on the skin that develops from years of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, commonly from the sun. Though it starts as sun damage, if left untreated it can sometimes lead to skin cancer. The condition is more common in older adults and those who've spent long periods outdoors without protection. Eric, who has spent much of his working life outside — first in the shipyard, and later as a leakage engineer for the water service — said the first signs appeared more than a year ago. 'It started with dry skin on both sides of my eyes. My wife kept telling me to use moisturiser. I tried E45 and all sorts, but it didn't shift,' he said. 'Then about six months ago, two little dots appeared on my cheek, and they crusted over.' 'From now on, my baseball cap will be frontwards — and there'll be factor 50 underneath it' When Eric finally went to his GP, he was referred to dermatology, where the diagnosis was confirmed. 'The consultant explained it to me in simple terms. She said: 'Think of it like angina — a warning of something worse. It can be treated — but if you don't [treat it], it can lead to cancer.' And as soon as you hear that, you panic.' The treatment comprised a powerful cream applied to the entire face daily for three weeks. While the cream targets visible damage, it also draws out hidden damage beneath the skin, leading to an intense reaction that's difficult to hide and hard to bear. 'You wouldn't have seen anything the first week. Second week, it started to appear. But see that third week? Brutal,' Eric said. 'I was up in the middle of the night for hours with the pain. It's like the worst sunburn you've ever had, and then some.' Still, he was determined not to shy away from his Parkrun volunteer duties. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content 'I'm not looking for sympathy. But I thought: 'If I show my face and tell people what it is, then maybe they'll learn from it,'' he explained. 'Especially in the running community, we're out all year round. And a lot of people don't think about sun cream here. I never did. Not in Belfast.' Eric admits he used to be the kind of person who put on 'a bit of factor 15 on holiday' and didn't think much more of it. But during a recent trip to Tenerife, after his diagnosis, he covered up for the first time. Runner Eric Montgomery developed a painful skin condition after years of sun exposure ui 'I bought a big floppy hat and used factor 50 every day. I'd never done that before in my life. But once you know what the damage is, you realise you don't want to make it worse.' Waterworks Parkrun was the first ever Parkrun in Ireland when it launched in November 2010, and Eric has been there from the beginning. A member of Lagan Valley Running Athletics Club for more than 30 years, Eric has long been known to regulars as the 'singing run director' thanks to his habit of breaking into homemade songs during the morning briefing: 'People love it. I've made up loads of songs about Parkrun over the years — it just makes it a bit of fun.' We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content His wife, also a keen runner, celebrated her 500th Parkrun at Waterworks last year. Though Eric is the more competitive of the two, he says Parkrun has been the perfect environment for them both. 'She used to be embarrassed about being slow, but that's the whole point of Parkrun — it's for everyone. It's not about the time; it's about the taking part.' On a typical Saturday, Waterworks Parkrun attracts around 250-300 runners. But with the latest being the 700th event — plus Eric's post attracting nearly 1,000 likes and comments — he's expecting a few more attendees this coming weekend, including visitors trying to tick off the letter W as part of the Parkrun alphabet challenge. Eric developed a painful skin condition after years of sun exposure It's that same community spirit that encouraged him to speak out. 'Since I posted about it, it's been amazing how many people messaged me saying they've had the same thing, or didn't know what it was called,' he said. 'It's sore. It's really sore. But if it gets people thinking about sun protection, then it's worth it.' From now on, one thing will definitely be changing, he said: 'I always wear my baseball cap backwards. But from now on, it'll be frontwards — and there'll be factor 50 underneath it.'

Teenage girls' TikTok skincare regimes offer little to no benefit, research shows
Teenage girls' TikTok skincare regimes offer little to no benefit, research shows

Irish Examiner

timea day ago

  • Irish Examiner

Teenage girls' TikTok skincare regimes offer little to no benefit, research shows

Skincare regimes demonstrated by young influencers on TikTok offer little to no benefit, researchers have found, adding that on the contrary they raise the risk of skin irritations and lifelong allergies in children. The team behind the study say there has been a rise in young girls sharing videos of complex skincare routines with moisturisers, toners, acne treatments and anti-ageing products. In the first study of its kind, researchers analysed such videos on the platform and found the regimes are not only laborious – some girls wake up as early as 4.30am to fit in their routines – but pricey, unnecessary and potentially harmful. 'The risks associated with using these products, especially in young girls, far outweighs whatever marginal benefit you may get from using the active ingredients,' said Dr Molly Hales, the first author of the research from Northwestern University. Hales added that while social media can be a place for playfulness and self-expression, young girls do not need such regimes. 'The danger is when girls get the message that this is something that they have to do to take care of their skin and to protect their health,' she said. These products don't increase the health of your skin and they probably worsen your skin integrity over time. Instead, she said a gentle cleanser once or twice a day and the application of sunscreen is sufficient. Writing in the journal Paediatrics, Hales and colleagues report how they created two TikTok accounts, purportedly for 13-year-olds, and accumulated a sample of 100 skincare routines videos filmed by young people. The team found all but one of the 82 creators were girls, and their age ranged from 7-18. 'Almost all content creators had clear, light skin without visible blemishes,' the researchers write, adding the videos 'made frequent reference to aspirational beauty ideals that may be tied to whiteness'. The study reveals the skincare regimes involved six products on average, often from the same brands, with a total average cost of $168 (€147). However, some involved more than a dozen products with a total cost of more than $500 (€437). 'Get Ready With Me' videos were the most common, followed by 'Skin Care Routine' and 'After School' skincare routine videos. The team found many of the ingredients in the featured products, such as citric acid, carry a risk of skin irritation and sun sensitivity – meaning they increase the chance of sunburn and other skin damage. Yet only 26% of the 84 videos showing daytime skincare routines included a sunscreen – something that authors called 'a significant missed opportunity'. Hales added the use of products with multiple active ingredients, or layering products with the same active ingredients, increases the risk of skin irritation. The researchers found that among the 25 top-viewed videos, 76% contained at least one potential contact allergen – often fragrance. The Guardian Read More The best SPFs for your face, as tested by a beauty editor

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store