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Why I’m Here Reapplying My Sunscreen
by Emily Johnson
Updated: Aug. 3, 2023
Originally Published: March 25, 2010
As I sat by the pool, my gaze was drawn to you as you slipped off your sandals and cover-up before diving in. I knew I should look away; you appeared to be only about 17, and I didn’t want to come off as that awkward 35-year-old. But the sight was captivating.
It wasn’t just your toned figure or youthful skin—though, let’s be real, that was impressive. No, what caught me off guard was something far more concerning: your overwhelming tan.
In a fleeting judgment, I assessed your complexion based on your hair and eye color. You likely tan easily, but here we were in early June after a long, icy winter. Your bronzed skin had no tan lines, suggesting you’d been spending time under a tanning lamp rather than soaking up the sun naturally.
I felt the urge to approach you. I wanted to show you the scar across my forehead—a constant reminder of why sunscreen is non-negotiable. That scar is the remains of a cancerous growth I had removed, a direct consequence of skin cancer. Despite never having used a tanning bed, I was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma at 35. If I had indulged in tanning like many of my friends back in college, I can’t help but wonder if the outcome would have been graver.
I wanted to share some alarming statistics about tanning and skin cancer. Did you know that nearly 420,000 cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. each year due to indoor tanning?
Or that the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma increases by 67 percent after just one tanning session?
The rate of melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer form, has risen by an astonishing 800 percent among young adults in the last 40 years, and 76 percent of melanoma cases in those aged 18 to 29 can be traced back to tanning bed use. Using a tanning bed before the age of 35 increases your risk of melanoma by 75 percent. And tragically, almost 10,000 people are expected to die from melanoma this year alone.
I wanted to implore you, not just for yourself but for the future children you may one day have: please avoid tanning beds.
Instead, I simply stared, feeling a mix of concern and helplessness. Finally, I made an announcement to my children that it was time to reapply our sunscreen, hoping to encourage good habits while I kept my worries to myself.
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In summary, it’s crucial to protect your skin with sunscreen and be aware of the dangers associated with tanning. Your future self will thank you, and your loved ones will benefit too.