Sunbed addict diagnosed with cancer at 22 after insisting doctors remove mole

Ellie says she regrets ever using sunbedsNeil Shaw Assistant Editor (Money and Lifestyle)06:57, 25 Aug 2026A woman who describes herself as a sunbed addict was diagnosed with melanoma at just 22 after insisting doctors remove a suspicious mole. Ellie Shaw started using tanning beds when she was 19 because she wanted to feel more confident about her naturally pale skin.‌Spending 15 minutes almost every day for three years, despite knowing there were risks, lash technician Ellie is now filled with regret after her diagnosis. “I was very addicted to sunbeds,” said Ellie from, Kettering, Northamptonshire.‌“I knew the risks but I ignored them because sunbeds made me feel good. I’m very pale naturally so I wanted a nice tan and to feel better about myself. I noticed the mole on my back, darker t