Beth Brown spent years chasing the perfect tan, convinced it was just part of her lifestyle. When a small red patch on her face refused to disappear, she assumed it was eczema \u2013 until a diagnosis changed her life and left her with a permanent reminder of the risks she never thought would affect her.<\/p>\n
For years, 30-year-old Beth Brown regularly used tanning beds while working as a flight attendant, often pairing indoor tanning with long hours in the sun during her travels.<\/p>\n
Like many young people, she believed a bronzed complexion was worth maintaining and rarely thought twice about the long-term consequences.<\/p>\n
That mindset, she now says, was shaped by more than just beauty trends.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mom never used sunscreen. Her generation was always frying in the sun, [so] I never really used it either, as it\u2019s what I\u2019d grown up with,\u201d Brown said, per People.<\/p>\n
Chasing a deeper tan, Brown said she started using tanning beds when she was 22, gradually increasing both the frequency and length of her sessions over the next six years. At times she tanned weekly, eventually spending up to 20 minutes in a bed.<\/p>\n
Though patch was eczema
\nEverything changed when she noticed a small red patch on the side of her face that wouldn\u2019t heal.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout three years ago I noticed a little red patch, and I thought it was eczema,\u201d Brown recalled in an interview with SWNS. \u201cI was putting E45 and Sudocrem on it \u2013 obviously it didn\u2019t go away.\u201d<\/p>\n
The area would occasionally bleed or form a scab, but she still didn\u2019t suspect skin cancer.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t until she mentioned it to her boyfriend that things took a different turn.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe sent a photo to his mum, who is a doctor, and she suggested to go to the doctor,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n
Looking back, Brown believes that conversation may have changed everything.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it wasn\u2019t for her, I might never have gone to the doctors,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
A diagnosis she never expected
\nDoctors diagnosed Brown with basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common form of skin cancer that\u2019s mostly caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.<\/p>\n
Although BCC rarely spreads to other parts of the body, it can continue growing if left untreated, making early diagnosis important.<\/p>\n
Brown said she waited six months for surgery after being placed on a waiting list.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was so scared that it would grow while I was waiting for the appointment,\u201d she recalled.<\/p>\n
When the procedure finally took place, she decided against a skin graft and allowed the wound to heal naturally.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hadn\u2019t [realized] how intense the healing process would be,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019d told my work I\u2019d be back the next day as I thought I\u2019d just have a little stitch, but I walked out with a hole in my face.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her skin has since healed, but the experience permanently changed the way she thinks about sun exposure.<\/p>\n
Tanning beds and skin cancer
\nHealth organizations have warned for years that tanning beds expose users to ultraviolet radiation, which increases the risk of skin cancer.<\/p>\n
According to the Skin Cancer Organization, \u201cmore than 419,000 cases of skin cancer in the U.S. each year are linked to indoor tanning, including about 245,000 basal cell carcinomas, 168,000 squamous cell carcinomas and 6,200 melanomas.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition, the risk of developing skin cancer \u201cbecause of indoor tanning\u201d is higher than a smoker getting lung cancer.<\/p>\n
Brown said she felt \u2018really stupid\u2019
\nBrown now says she wears sunscreen every day and avoids spending long periods in direct sunlight.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a sunshine baby at heart, but I make sure to look after my skin. I wear SPF every day now. I can\u2019t imagine going outside without putting it on my face,\u201d she said. \u201cBeing outside and getting vitamin D is so important but just make sure you don\u2019t fry. Sit in the shade, wear sun cream, wear a hat.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was very naive. I thought it would never happen to me. I definitely regret using sun beds now. When I was diagnosed with BCC, I felt so freaked out and also really stupid. I thought, \u2018What have I done this to myself?\u2019 I just want to help other girls and raise awareness that it is more common than you think, and it could happen to you,\u201d she warned.<\/p>\n
And, her message hit especially close to home.<\/p>\n
After Brown\u2019s diagnosis, her mother decided to get checked as well and was also diagnosed with BCC, reinforcing the warning Brown now hopes others will hear before ignoring a suspicious spot on their own skin.<\/p>\n
If Brown\u2018s story resonated with you, please share it with your family and friends. Raising awareness about the risks of tanning beds and the importance of daily sunscreen could help someone catch skin cancer before it\u2019s too late.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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