I couldn’t help but be captivated as you gracefully slipped off your sandals and cover-up before diving into the pool. I knew I should probably avert my gaze; you looked like you were barely 17, and here I was, the slightly creepy 35-year-old onlooker. But honestly, I was entranced.
It wasn’t just your perky features or that enviably flat stomach—though, seriously, props! What truly made my heart race was something more alarming.
Sweetheart, you are WAY too tan.
I quickly assessed your complexion, factoring in your hair and eye color. Sure, you might tan easily, but it was the first week of June, and after a winter that felt like a polar expedition, there wasn’t a single tan line to be found on your shoulders, back, or legs. All signs pointed to a pre-prom fake bake.
I wanted to approach you. I wanted to pull off my sun hat and reveal my forehead scar—the two-inch reminder of why sunscreen is non-negotiable. A melon-sized lump of cancerous tissue had to be removed from my forehead. Yes, my forehead! Who knew there was that much skin up there? But there was, and it was riddled with basal cell carcinoma. I’ve never stepped foot in a tanning bed, yet here I was diagnosed at 35. If I had been a sun worshipper like so many of my college pals, it’s likely my story would have been far more serious.
I wanted to tell you about the staggering statistics surrounding tanning beds and skin cancer. Did you know that nearly 420,000 cases of skin cancer are diagnosed annually in the U.S. due to indoor tanning? Or that the number of skin cancer cases caused by tanning surpasses those linked to lung cancer from smoking?
One session in a tanning bed boosts your risk of squamous cell carcinoma by 67%. Go a few more times, and that risk of developing basal cell carcinoma jumps by 73%. The incidence of melanoma among young adults has skyrocketed by 800% in the last four decades, and melanoma is the deadliest skin cancer of them all. A staggering 76% of melanoma cases in 18 to 29-year-olds are tied directly to tanning bed use. If you’ve ever graced a tanning bed before 35, your risk of melanoma increases by 75%.
And guess what? Approximately 10,000 people will die from melanoma this year alone.
I wanted to plead with you, on behalf of the kids you haven’t yet dreamed of but will want to protect: Stay away from those tanning beds.
Instead, I just kept staring. Then, I dramatically announced to my kids that it was time for a sunscreen reapplication. Because let’s be real, we need to protect our skin.
If you’re curious to learn more about safe sun practices and fertility journeys, you might want to check out this post about home insemination. And for those navigating the world of artificial insemination, this resource is fantastic. Don’t forget to visit Progyny’s blog for excellent insights on pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, while the allure of a sun-kissed glow might tempt you, the risks associated with tanning beds are real and alarming. Protect your skin, and embrace a safer way to enjoy the sun!