"It's Really Not Worth It": Mum-of-Two Shares Sunbed Warning After Two Melanoma Diagnoses
Tuesday 24th February 2026
A Newport mum-of-two who has survived melanoma twice is urging people to ditch sunbeds for good and choose safer alternatives such as fake tan.
Emma Giannuzzi, 36, from Rogerstone, was first diagnosed with melanoma at just 23 years old, and was diagnosed again after having her second child. She had used sunbeds regularly throughout her late teens, often before holidays in an effort to build what she believed was a “base tan”.
Although Emma cannot say for certain that sunbeds caused her cancer, she believes they were “likely a factor in me getting melanoma.”
“It’s really not worth it”
Reflecting on her experience, Emma says the short-term boost she felt from tanning was overshadowed by the long-term consequences.
“It is really not worth it, that momentary feeling of ‘oh yes, my skin looks lovely and tanned’. It doesn’t last. It’s literally a moment.”
Emma began using sunbeds at 16, typically spending between eight and ten minutes each session. She said she often left the sunbed burnt, yet was still allowed to continue using them.
In some salons, she was even offered tanning accelerators (creams with no sun protection) and the risks were rarely, if ever, discussed.
“It just felt normal,” Emma said. “Everyone I knew seemed to use sunbeds. It made me feel better about myself.”
A Life-changing Diagnosis – Twice!
Emma gave up sunbeds in her early 20s after learning more about the dangers of UV exposure. But not long after, while applying sun cream at a party, she noticed what she thought was a smudge of chocolate on her stomach. It was actually a changing mole.
She was diagnosed with stage 1A melanoma. The news left her in shock.
“I’d assumed cancer was something that happened when you were older. I wasn’t emotionally equipped to deal with it.”
Years later, during a routine check-up while pregnant with her second child, doctors became concerned about another mole. It was confirmed as melanoma shortly after her baby was born.
“The thought that I’d had my baby growing while I had cancer was horrible,” she said. “It felt different the second time because I had children relying on me to be alive. The thought that I’ve done that to myself made me feel so guilty.”
Living With the Lasting Impact
Since her diagnoses, Emma has had 10 moles removed. Most have been non-cancerous, but she describes the wait for results as “horrific”.
Now, she avoids sunbeds completely and uses fake tanning products instead, calling them a much safer way to achieve the same confidence boost.
Emma hopes her story will encourage others, especially young people, to think twice before using sunbeds.
“If you want a tan, reach for the bottle, not the sunbed.”
She wants people to understand that the short-lived glow from a sunbed is never worth risking your health.
How To Recognise Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is easier to treat when found early so it’s important to know what to look for.
Think ABCDE. Take time to regularly check your skin and moles for these warning signs:
- Asymmetry - one half looks different to the other
- Border - Unusual or uneven borders
- Colour - Patches with more than one colour
- Diameter - Spots or moles larger than 6mm in diameter
- Evolution - Changes in shape or size over time
If something doesn’t look right, get it checked by your GP. Recognising the signs of skin cancer could save your life.
