As I lounged poolside, I noticed a young woman gracefully removing her sandals and cover-up before entering the water. I felt the urge to look away, knowing she was likely no older than 17, and I certainly didn’t want to appear like the overly observant adult. But I was captivated.
What drew my attention wasn’t merely her youthful physique or flawless skin; it was something far more concerning. Her intense tan was alarming.
Based on her hair and eye color, I quickly assessed her natural skin tone. It was early June and, after a brutal winter, there were no tan lines evident on her shoulders or legs. It appeared she had opted for a pre-prom tanning session, likely in a salon.
If only I could have approached her, removed my sun hat, and shared my story—a 2-inch scar on my forehead, a permanent reminder of my battle with skin cancer. This scar was a result of basal cell carcinoma, a diagnosis I received at 35. Despite never having used a tanning bed, I found myself grappling with the consequences of sun exposure. Had I indulged in artificial tanning like many of my peers in college, the outcome could have been more severe, potentially even melanoma.
I wanted to convey critical information about the risks associated with indoor tanning. Did you know that nearly 420,000 skin cancer cases are diagnosed annually in the United States due to indoor tanning? The statistics are staggering: tanning beds cause more instances of skin cancer than the number of lung cancer cases attributed to smoking. Just one session in a UV tanning bed can increase the risk of squamous cell carcinoma by 67 percent, and subsequent sessions can heighten the risk of basal cell carcinoma by 73 percent. Alarmingly, the melanoma incidence among young adults has surged by 800 percent over the past four decades, making it the deadliest form of skin cancer. Furthermore, 76 percent of melanoma cases in young adults can be traced back to tanning bed use, and early use before age 35 increases the risk of developing melanoma by 75 percent. Tragically, nearly 10,000 individuals will succumb to melanoma this year.
With these facts in mind, I felt compelled to implore her—on behalf of her future children and for her own sake: steer clear of tanning beds.
Instead, I simply maintained my gaze for a moment longer before announcing to my family that it was time to reapply our sunscreen.
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In summary, while the allure of a perfect tan may be tempting, the potential health risks associated with tanning beds cannot be overstated. Protecting your skin with sunscreen is essential, a lesson I wish to share with younger generations.