Adelaide-based influencer Matilda Baxter, 21, has revealed she is seeking therapy for a dangerous tanning addiction, a habit she acknowledges is difficult to control. Her concerns have been echoed by her parents and new partner.
Baxter uses a combination of tanning peptides, including melanotan, which are not approved by Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), alongside a home solarium. The TGA warns that melanotan, administered via injection, ingestion, or nasal spray, can lead to serious health problems. Tanning beds have been banned for commercial use in Australia since 2015, following the death of a woman who linked her melanoma diagnosis to their use. However, they remain legal for personal use.
Baxter, known on social media as Tilds Search, uses a $7,000 solarium in her garage at least four times per week. "I am not an advocate for (using tanning beds), and I will say that I am an addict," she told the Daily Mail. "I am seeing a therapist about it."
The Australian Cancer Council states that solarium use before age 35 increases the risk of melanoma by 59%, and each sunbed session raises the risk of developing melanoma by 1.8%. Baxter reported that she undergoes regular skin checks and mole mapping.
Baxter's partner, Alessandro Della-Verde, expressed his concern. "As a partner, I can't stop Matilda doing what she wants to do," he said. Della-Verde suggested she use peptides to alter her skin pigment, believing it reduces the risk of sunburn, though no evidence supports the safety or effectiveness of unapproved tanning peptides in preventing sunburn or skin damage. The TGA cautions that these products are often marketed as safe and natural but carry significant risks.
Baxter traced her tanning "addiction" back to age 12, when she began ordering fake tanning products. "My dad said I looked like an oompa loompa, so I would order it to be delivered to the post office. I'd go and get it before my dad (got there) and take it back to school," she recalled.
This is not the first time Baxter's appearance has drawn public attention. She recently underwent a "Barbie waist" surgery in Bali, a procedure not available in Australia that reshapes lower floating ribs to create a smaller waist. This body-contouring surgery has drawn criticism from medical professionals for its severe risks, including collapsed lungs and internal organ damage, and concerns from social media users about promoting unrealistic beauty standards.
Baxter has been open about her cosmetic procedures, which she estimates have cost her tens of thousands of dollars annually for upkeep, including liposuction, a breast augmentation, and hip surgery. She stated, "At the end of the day, all I care about is my happiness and how I am as a person."