Every Body Looks Better Bronzed

"Every body looks better bronzed" I'm sure everyone has heard this before. Unfortunately, I believed that and tanned in a tanning bed for years. Yes, I 100% agree that people look thinner and healthier with a tan. For years, I would tan every single day in a tanning bed. I would even tan in the morning, then go out on the lake all day. Stupid Stupid Stupid.

Discovery Health:

In July 2009, a study by international cancer experts labeled tanning beds as dangerous as arsenic and mustard gas -- in the top category of cancer-causing risks [source: MSNBC]. The study -- which was a conglomerate analysis of 20 previous studies -- discovered that people who used tanning beds before their 30th birthday had a 75 percent higher risk of developing skin cancer. In addition, they discovered that all types of UV radiation - not only UVA rays - cause cell mutations and cancer.

About three years ago, I noticed a spot on my nose. It looked like a dry flaky spot. I did not think anything of it until it was a year later and it had not gone away. I went to the doctor for other reasons and thought it was a good opportunity to ask him about it. He said it was dandruff and that I should use Head and Shoulders to make it go away. Sounded simple enough for me but I still had a bad feeling about it. After a couple years, (yes I know I wanted a long time), I decided I needed to get it checked out. My sister just started as a nurse at a dermatology office. I went in to her clinic and had it biopsied. Results came back and it was Cancer. It is called Basal Cell Cell Carcinoma (BCC).

Skin Cancer Foundation:

BCCs are abnormal, uncontrolled growths or lesions that arise in the skin’s basal cells, which line the deepest layer of the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin). BCCs often look like open sores, red patches, pink growths, shiny bumps, or scars. Usually caused by a combination of cumulative UV exposure and intense, occasional UV exposure, BCC can be highly disfiguring if allowed to grow, but almost never spreads (metastastasizes) beyond the original tumor site. Only in exceedingly rare cases can BCC spread to other parts of the body and become life-threatening.

I started my six week treatment 4 weeks ago. I apply a cream Sunday through Thursday night and wash it off in the morning. It is extremely red and I am super self conscious but it has to be done. Hopefully, in two weeks this will all be done and over with. Here is a picture of my nose week four.

I am sharing this so hopefully people will stop tanning or at least go less. Its not worth it! There are soo many self tanners out there that I use religiously. My next post, I will share some of my favorites. So all I ask is think next time before you go tanning and always use SPF!!