http://www.buzzfeed.com/carolynkylstra/skin-cancer-treatment
“If anyone needs a little motivation to not lay in the tanning bed and sun here ya go! This is what skin cancer treatment can look like. Wear sunscreen and get a spray tan. You only get one skin and you should take care of it. Learn from other people’s mistakes. Don’t let tanning prevent you from seeing your children grow up. That’s my biggest fear now that I have a two year old little boy of my own.”
Those are the words of Tawny Willoughby, a 27-year-old woman facing skin cancer treatments after using tanning beds regularly as a teenager.
I actually used tanning beds a few times, back when I was just starting out in the TV news business. I thought it would make me look better on-air. Maybe it did…but I regret doing it, even those half-dozen times or so. I’ve been trying to embrace my paleness a lot more these days. 🙂
Reading Tawny’s story and seeing the Facebook photo she posted after her treatment (warning: it’s not for the faint of heart) made me want to share this post today. I’ve had numerous moles removed from my skin the past 3-4 years. Not exactly enjoyable.
Two of the moles were found to be dysplastic nevi, which aren’t cancerous, but are ones that could have become that way in time. Who knows if the tanning beds contributed to that, but I’m sure they didn’t help.
Basically, I just want to echo Tawny’s advice. Please, don’t take any chances with your skin…and definitely don’t use tanning beds.
Have a great day.
positively second 