Picture this: a glowing, bronzed tan, no need for a holiday in Spain and all it takes is a quick 10-minute visit to your local tanning salon. Sounds tempting, right? Sunbeds might seem like a quick fix for that summer glow, especially here in Scotland where we don’t get much sunshine. But, before you book your next session, let’s chat about the hidden dangers that come with using sunbeds and how they affect more than just your skin. Spoiler alert: they mess with your melatonin levels, which can throw your sleep completely off track.
We also need to talk about the rise of hormone treatments like Melanotan. These are marketed as an easy shortcut to darker skin but they’re seriously dangerous too!
What’s the Deal with Sunbeds?
Sunbeds work by blasting your skin with UV (ultraviolet) rays—mainly UVA and UVB radiation. These are the same types of rays that come from the sun, but sunbeds use them in a more concentrated form. The rays penetrate your skin, causing it to produce more melanin (the pigment responsible for making your skin darker). While this might give you that “healthy” glow, they are actually damaging your skin.
UV exposure is the number one cause of skin cancer, including the most dangerous type, melanoma. In fact, using a sunbed just once before the age of 35 can increase your risk of melanoma by up to 59%. It’s not just a little tan—it could be a lifelong risk.
The Skin Damage You Can’t See
We all know about the typical sunburn horror stories, but the damage caused by sunbeds goes way deeper. Premature ageing is a big one. You might end up with leathery skin before your 30th birthday—and that’s not even the worst part.
Even if you don’t see any immediate harm after using a sunbed, the damage is building up. Each session adds to what’s called your “UV dose.” Every little bit of exposure is stored by your skin, making it more vulnerable to cancer in the long run.
It is also illegal to use a sunbed when you are under 18 in Scotland.
How Sunbeds Mess with Your Melatonin
Now, let’s talk about something you might not have considered: how sunbeds affect your melatonin levels. Melatonin is a hormone that plays a crucial role in regulating your sleep-wake cycle. When it gets dark, your body starts producing melatonin, which signals to your brain that it’s time to wind down for the night. On the flip side, light—especially blue light from screens or bright UV rays—tells your body to hold off on the melatonin, keeping you awake.
Using sunbeds, especially later in the day, can seriously mess with your body’s natural rhythm. The UV rays trick your brain into thinking it’s still daylight, delaying melatonin production. This can make it harder to fall asleep and lead to disrupted sleep patterns. Over time, poor sleep can affect your mood, focus, and even your mental health.
In Scotland, where we already deal with shorter daylight hours in the winter, our bodies are naturally craving more melatonin. Using sunbeds can throw everything out of whack, leading to restless nights and insomnia.
The Dark Side of Hormone Treatments Like Melanotan
Lately, another risky trend has emerged: hormone treatments like Melanotan. These synthetic hormones are injected to help the skin produce more melanin when exposed to UV rays—meaning you tan faster and darker, with less sunbed time. It might sound like a shortcut to the perfect tan, but it comes with serious risks.
Melanotan is unregulated in the UK and is not approved by medical authorities, yet many people are still getting it online or in some gyms or beauty / tanning salons. The biggest danger here is that you don’t really know what you’re putting into your body. These injections can cause serious side effects such as nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure and even issues with the heart and kidneys.
There’s also evidence that Melanotan can cause moles and freckles to darken or increase in size, which makes it harder for doctors to detect skin cancers early. Considering how dangerous melanoma already is, using a product that makes skin cancer detection even harder is a massive risk.
Finally, like sunbeds, Melanotan doesn’t just affect your skin. Hormonal imbalances can mess with your mood, disrupt your body’s natural processes and cause long-term damage that’s much harder to reverse than a bad tan.
Healthier (and Safer!) Alternatives
The good news is that you can achieve a sun-kissed glow without the risks. Self-tanning lotions, sprays, and mousses are affordable, safe and come in a range of shades to suit different skin tones.
And if you’re craving that boost of confidence from a tan, remember that embracing your natural skin tone is always in style. We all have different shades and they’re all beautiful. Plus, avoiding sunbeds and dangerous treatments like Melanotan means you’ll keep your skin healthier, wrinkle-free for longer and—most importantly—safe from serious health risks.
The Bottom Line
Using sunbeds or hormone treatments like Melanotan might seem like a quick and easy way to achieve that bronzed look but the dangers they pose are anything but worth it. Skin cancer, premature ageing and sleep disruption from altered melatonin levels are just some of the risks involved. While beauty trends might come and go, your health is forever.
So, next time you’re tempted by the glowing lights of a tanning salon or an unregulated injection, remember that there are safer alternatives out there—and that a healthy body and mind are far more important than a temporary tan.
Stay safe, stay smart and love the skin you’re in!