A woman who beat skin cancer twice has issued a stark warning for sunbed users this winter.
Lisa Costello was an avid tan worshipper, booking herself in for sessions throughout the year.
The 43-year-old became “addicted” to sunbeds – until she was diagnosed with melanoma not once but twice.
Taking to TikTok, she has shared her experience in a post that has 1.7 million views as a stark warning for anyone seeking a winter tan.
In the post, she documents her old mentality towards tanning such as “Fancy a cheeky sunbed?” and “Can’t wait to get a tan on holiday!” – which she describes as her “famous last words”.
“Don’t be tempted to go for a sunbed to keep that tan that you feel you desperately need – use a fake tan!,” the driving instructor, from Essex, told Need To Know.
“Even though the UV is lower in the winter months, it doesn’t mean you have to take less care of your skin.
“It’s not worth the risk.
“I felt angry [when doctors told me I had cancer] because, for more than half my life, I was never told how dangerous sunbeds or tanning was.
“That may sound stupid to some, but I was brought up in the 90s when being tanned was a good thing and the people around me were also addicted.
“And on the other hand, I felt really sad, because if I was educated enough, I wouldn’t be in this position.
“Now, I’m looking over my shoulder in case the melanoma decides to come back.
“Overall, the worst decision of my life.”
In her younger years, Lisa describes herself as being “addicted to tanning” but says she wasn’t aware of what faced her after years of sunbed use.
She believes many current users are equally oblivious to the dangers.
She said: “Why is it OK to have the dangers of smoking plastered all over cigarette packaging but there’s nothing in sunbed shops warning us about it?
“Many sunbed users have no idea of the risks.
“There isn’t enough awareness of skin cancer and the dangers associated with sunbeds and burning in the sun.
“We may not be a hot country but we still need to be aware – then people can make their own decisions.”
Lisa had her first cancer scare in 2018 and got three moles removed.
Although she had stopped using sunbeds altogether, in 2021, she had a “bad feeling” about another mole, which turned out to be cancerous.
Doctors removed another total of seven moles including on her face.
Lisa is now being kept under careful watch by her doctors.
She is sharing her story to urge other people to get their skin checked, and to promote healthier attitudes to tanning – including the importance of using fake tan rather than sizzling in the sun or on sunbeds.
She added: “My routine doesn’t change throughout the year.
“I apply SPF every day on the exposed areas to the sun/UV.
“It’s just now in my daily routine and I love it.
“I just wish I did this from being a teenager [onwards] – and maybe I wouldn’t be in this situation.
“It’s so important to have more awareness here in the UK because it will 100% save lives.”
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