Former tan-addict Karrieann McDonnell is warning others against sunbed use after having 19 lesions removed. She is now left littered with marks from continued sun damage to her skin
Women are coming forward to share their sunbed horrors and are issuing serious warnings to young sunbed users that the road to tanning does not look as golden as it may seem. Former tan addict, Karrieann McDonnell shared her personal experience of the true damage that can be done after revealing she’s now had an alarming 19 lesions removed.
The personal trainer from Ireland told Ireland AM: “Tans fade but damage lasts”. Her honest account of the last three decades since she entered the ‘tan-iverse’ is a harrowing story.
The clip has now reached 1.6 million views on TikTok and over 93,000 likes. The efforts have been praised for the speaker’s candour as she opened up about her addiction, claiming that before entering the sunbed, she looked “the complete opposite” of what she does now.
READ MORE: ‘I’m so addicted to sunbeds I go on them four times a week – I can’t stop’
Karrieann had her first machine-made tan in the 1990’s due to her becoming a fitness trainer. She said: “It was all about looks, image was important’ back then, and her tanned skin made her feel “confident”.
In the shocking admission, she added: “I took quickly to sunbeds, starting out with five minutes maybe three times a week, and then gradually building up to six minutes, eight minutes, 10 minutes. Over the years, it ended up being about 20 minutes”.
Finding her first mark on her leg in 2010, the trainer recalled how she was “hoping it would heal over”, but when there was no sign of progress, she finally had it checked out by a GP, only to be diagnosed with an ulcer. But once Karrieann had the lesion removed, she swiftly returned to the sunbeds.
A lesion is an area of skin tissue that has been damaged via disease or injury. It can appear as a wound, ulcer, abscess, or tumour. Karrieann’s first appeared in 2010 after she returned from a girl’s trip, only to find herself in the hospital getting her first ulcer removed.
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The tan addict named basal cell carcinomas (BBC) as “the most common but least aggressive of skin cancers.” The NHS explains that BBC are caused by ultraviolet light, which comes from the sun and is used in sunbeds, and refers to them as “non-melanoma skin cancer”. Ultimately, Karrieann wishes she had had hers checked out beforehand. She said: “I didn’t learn my lesson, that time, so another one appeared on my boob and then had to have that checked out.”
Then a second mark appeared on her breast and the personal trainer recalled how relieved she was to have it confirmed as non-cancerous, after suffering a lengthy needle inserted far into her armpit to check. The cancer scare is what finally shook her toxic relationship with her sunbeds, making her realise she was receiving no long-term benefits back, only health scares.
“What I normally do with my hands, I get a file and I have to file down [marks on her skin] because they’re raised and people think they’re freckles,” said the now 54-year-old, and in a separate video on her own social media page. She confessed: “It’s everywhere, it’s actually disgusting,” as she pointed to marks across her body.
“What I would say to anyone who is thinking about doing sunbeds… tan fades, damages doesn’t,” concluded Karrieann, to the commendation of the host.
July is UV Awareness Month, and Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Parneet Gill, is issuing a warning against viral social trend “SPF snacking” – an assumption that SPF is only needed for long periods of exposure. The skin cancer specialist from UK’s leading dermatology clinic group, sk:n, spoke on the regular use of sunbeds, saying: “Just 10–15 minutes of unprotected exposure can trigger long-term UV damage – especially if repeated”.
Sk:n added: “People often underestimate the risk of cumulative sun exposure. Even a quick walk, or sitting near a window, can cause DNA changes in the skin that increase the risk of skin cancer.” The company claimed mole mapping can save your life – and with the rise of skin cancer rates, early treatment has peaked in importance.
There is also the worrying Gen-Z TikTok trend “Sunscreen contouring” and their adoption of sunbeds, which is causing a growing concern for skin experts. For those not chronically online, sunscreen contouring is exactly what you think – the painting of sunscreen to force tan lines that mimic makeup contouring. Advertised as a makeup-free ‘clean beauty’ trend, the ‘hack’ leaves out sections of skin on people’s noses, foreheads and cheekbones from UV protection to produce the desired, chiselled look.
Parneet concluded: “Skin cancer doesn’t always look ‘dangerous’. That’s why we advise an annual mole check for anyone with fair skin, a high number of moles, frequent UV exposure, or a family history of melanoma. Mole Mapping allows us to detect potential issues before they become serious”.
Follow the ABCDE rule to self-check
Asymmetry
Border irregularity
Colour variation
Diameter over 6mm
Evolution or change over time
Note that “other red flags include itching, bleeding or a mole that looks noticeably different from the rest. If you notice any of these, don’t delay – get checked by a medical expert,” advises Sk:n’s expert team.
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