During my first year of high school, I enrolled in an aerobics class for my PE credit. The cramped portable classroom was filled with around 20 girls and two boys, all of us jumping and dancing our way to better health while hoping the structure wouldn’t collapse under our energy.
Halfway through the semester, our instructor arrived looking like she had just endured a terrible sunburn. From her scalp to her neck, her skin was a bright, shiny red, resembling raw meat. She revealed that her dermatologist had performed a special chemical peel to prevent future skin cancer, as she had tanned excessively in her youth and was facing the threat of melanoma.
We were all horrified for her, especially since she was nearing 40, but none of us thought to buy sunscreen for our beach plans. She pleaded with us to wear hats and apply sunscreen. “Please,” she urged, “You don’t want to end up with premature wrinkles and skin cancer like me!”
Later, while changing back into our school clothes, my friends and I discussed our teacher’s alarming appearance and her passionate warnings. I made a comment that still haunts me: “I don’t care if I’m wrinkled by 40. I’ll be old by then and won’t care!”
Ah, the foolish arrogance of youth.
In college, I often visited the local tanning salon, where students received discounts. They even had cute stickers to create pale “stamps” on your skin, leaving certain areas protected from harmful UV rays.
Now at 41, my chest is furious—both at me and at anyone who continues to intentionally expose themselves to harmful UV rays, whether from the sun or tanning beds. For 15 years, I baked myself in the sun, using accelerators and tilting my face to get even coverage on my neck. Now, my chest is far from attractive.
Fortunately, I have a high level of melanin for a white person, which means I tan easily and rarely burn. This gives me somewhat more protection against skin cancer compared to those with lighter skin. My sister, who is fairer, hasn’t been so lucky and has already had several skin cancer surgeries.
However, I haven’t escaped the damage entirely. I may still face the need for surgical removals, and my chest, neck, hands, and forearms show signs of premature aging. If I could go back in time, I would punch my 14-year-old self in the face. That girl was so naive to think she wouldn’t care about her appearance at 40.
But I do care. Instead of having a smooth chest, I’m left with deep wrinkles. My once-glowing skin is now permanently marked, resembling a well-used leather handbag. These lines remain even when I’m not trying to create cleavage or lying down. They’re just there, mocking me every time I look in the mirror.
While it may seem superficial, I truly despise this. I have no objection to natural aging, but what I see is a direct consequence of years spent in the sun and tanning beds. I was foolish.
When I see people using tanning beds or applying suntan oil at the beach, I feel a strong urge to show them my chest. I want to say, “Look! You think you won’t care, but trust me, you will!”
But this issue goes beyond aesthetics; tanning beds are incredibly dangerous. In the U.S., over 400,000 skin cancer cases are tied to indoor tanning. Melanoma is the second most common cancer among females aged 15-29 and the leading cause of cancer death in those aged 25-29. Tanning indoors before the age of 35 increases melanoma risk by up to 59%, and with each use, that risk grows. Some countries have banned indoor tanning due to its dangers, yet here in the U.S., 7.8 million women and 1.9 million men still choose to tan indoors. What on Earth?
It’s bizarre that many people feel compelled to change their skin color, especially using such a perilous method. Sunless tanning products have significantly improved over the years, often being cheaper than a tanning session in a cancer-causing bed. If you want to alter your skin color, that’s your choice, but why choose the method that could lead to premature aging, skin removal, or even death? It’s utterly ridiculous.
No amount of chemical peels will erase these deep wrinkles. I deeply regret my past choices. Despite my melanin levels, the intensity and duration of my UV exposure make it likely that I will face skin cancer one day.
It’s easy for the young to convince themselves that they won’t care about their skin in the future. Those of us with higher melanin who tan easily often underestimate our risk of skin cancer. But trust someone who’s been there: you will care. Protect your skin. Avoid UV rays—both indoors and outdoors.
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Summary
This article discusses the long-term consequences of using tanning beds and excessive sun exposure, particularly the author’s regrets about premature aging and skin damage. It highlights the dangers of tanning, including the increased risk of skin cancer and the superficial impacts that can arise, encouraging readers to take care of their skin.
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- Risks of tanning beds
- How to prevent skin cancer
- Consequences of sun exposure
- Tanning bed alternatives
- Understanding skin aging