14 DAY TRIAL // Tawny Willoughby must have heard that tanning beds were directly linked to a higher incidence of skin cancer, but back in high school, she didn’t think she was doing much harm by hopping on one 4 to 5 times a week.
Now, at 27, she’s been battling skin cancer for 6 years. Her most recent selfie, shared on Facebook a few days ago and gone viral in the meantime, isn’t the kind that we usually post: the flattering kind, preferably snapped in a bathroom mirror when we’re in our Sunday clothes.
It’s a wake-up call for all those tanners out there; it’s a chilling look at skin cancer.
Tawny rings the alarm on Facebook, goes viral
Tanning beds increase the odds of getting skin cancer, and Tawny knows this for a fact. She also wants to use her own experience to ring the alarm on the importance of not getting fake tans unless they come in a can and can be sprayed or applied on, and of using sunscreen when spending too much time outdoors.
So, a few days ago, fresh off another visit at the dermatologist’s and another cancer treatment, she snapped a selfie and posted it to Facebook. As of now, the photo has been shared thousands of times, restarting the discussion on tanning beds and getting attention from the international media.
Tawny was diagnosed with cancer when she was 21, and now at 27 and the mother of a 2-year-old boy, she wishes she could take back those days she got in the tanning bed.
“I probably laid an average of 4-5 times a week (I laid frequently because my tan faded very fast),” she wrote in the caption of the photo. “I never laid in the tanning bed and in the sun in the same day. I never laid in the tanning bed twice in one day. I had my first skin cancer diagnosis at 21. Now, at 27, I've had basal cell carcinoma 5 times and squamous cell carcinoma once (excluding my face). I go to the dermatologist every 6-12 months and usually have a skin cancer removed at each checkup. I'm very thankful to not have had melanoma.”
She wants the world to look at her face and know that this is what skin cancer treatment can look like, and then reconsider before stepping out of the house without sunscreen on or getting on a tanning bed.
Protect the skin you’re in
As she puts it, we only have one skin and we should treat it with respect and consideration.
Experts have warned countless times as well: prolonged exposure to the sun, particularly in the mid-day interval when it burns brighter, should be avoided if possible. If not, we should wear sunscreen, a hat and clothing to cover most of our body and thus avoid sunburn.
Regular checkups are a must, but we should also learn to read the signs our body is giving us. Don’t waste time and see a specialist if you notice anything different about your skin, whether it’s a new mole or a lesion that won’t heal.
If you want a tan, get one at your local beauty salon, the spray-on kind, or in the comfort of your own home, thanks to the myriad of self-tanning products that are as easy to use as they’re affordable. They might last less than a real tan, but at least you’re not running any of the health risks associated with the tanning bed.