Natalia Armstrong, 24, thought she had found the perfect shortcut to a deeper tan.
The young British woman lay in a sunbed for 20 minutes with her feet beneath the facial tanning lamp, right where its effect is strongest. When she got out, she felt fine. She didn’t even seem to have sunburn.
Two days later, her sister woke her in alarm at the sight of her face. It was swollen, with red, blistered and peeling patches. According to her account, the swelling was so severe that they had to cut four rings off her hand, and she received medical care and antibiotics for an infection. A friend with medical experience came to her home to check on her.
It happened at the worst possible time: she had just spent 7,000 dollars on dental treatment in Turkey and was afraid she would be left with scars on her face. She recorded a 5-minute TikTok with the marks visible to warn people about the irresponsible use of these beds. As she explained, many of her friends tan the same way, even though it’s dangerous.
