Mandy’s tan in TV tale (From Blackpool Citizen)

Mandy’s tan in TV tale

3:10pm Thursday 26th October 2006

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A woman who has been using sunbeds since she was 15 is to feature in a new BBC documentary next month.

Mandy Sherwin, 34, from Blackpool, said she could never imagine life without her tan.

The pet clothing shop owner, dubbed a tanorexic as she uses sunbeds so often, says she prefers the bronzed look to her natural English rose colouring.

At one time she used sunbeds five to six times a week because she hated her pale complexion.

Although she has already had one 'scare' Mandy said using sunbeds is a risk she is prepared to take in order to get the look she wants, despite medical warnings about the link with skin cancer.

"If we listened to everything we should or should not do we would never do anything," she said.

"When I've had a session at the salon I feel healthier."

She believes modern tanning salons and sunbeds are safer and said that using a sunbed can ease certain skin complaints.

"My mum bought a sunbed and used it at home when I was 15," said Mandy.

"She only let me use it once a week but I loved it.

"When I was in my late teens I started to go to tanning salons and by the time I was 21 I had left home and was going to the salons five or six times a week for about a year."

At about this time Mandy's mother developed a cancerous mole on her face which she had surgically removed.

Doctors told her that it could have been caused through sunbed use so Mandy's mother has never used the tanning aid again.

Frightened by her mother's experience Mandy stopped using sunbeds too.

But her resolve was short lived and within a week Mandy was back in the salon as a regular customer.

"I'm not addicted," said Mandy, owner of Kanine Katwalk, Dickson Road. "I just feel better with a tan."

She added: "A few years ago I had a spot on my face that changed colour and went crusty.

"My doctor told me to ease off a bit so I gave it up for about a week.

"The spot went back to normal after a couple of weeks.

"But as well as the bad side there are a lot of good things about sunbeds.

"My brother used to have a severe acne problem which totally cleared up on the sunbed.

"The sunbed hasn't made my skin like shoe leather.

"I look after my skin and use decent moisturising products.

"My skin is soft and a lot of people say I look younger than my years."

Mandy will appear on the BBC One programme, One Life: Tanorexics, on Wednesday, November 1, which follows tan addicts from across the UK.

The show also includes Blackpool Pleasure Beach's Mystique master illusionist, Richard De Vere.

Consultant dermatologist at Blackpool's Victoria Hospital, Dr Walter Bottomley, said: "I have not come across the term tanorexia' although it is not uncommon for people to become almost obsessive about retaining their tan and therefore using sunbeds very regularly.

"I would advise people against using ultraviolet methods to tan their skin.

"The link between prolonged sunbed use and skin cancer is well documented.

"In addition, on a cosmetic level, it increases the likelihood of damaged, dry, unhealthy skin as well as freckles and wrinkles.

"A wide range of products are available to give the skin a tanned appearance and these are safer for your skin in the longer term."

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