• About Me
    • Brand Work
    • Portfolio/CV
  • Family
  • Food
  • Health & Beauty
  • Home
  • Style
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
    • Shop My Amazon Picks
    • Shop My Instagram

Dreams + Coffee

North Carolina Healthy Living + Style Blogger

Say NO to the tanning bed {and get a skin check}

May 9, 2012 Comments : 4

So I’m sure you can tell where this post is going…most of us have ventured into a tanning bed at least once or twice (or a thousand) times. And most of us continue to do so…at least until something comes along that rattles us or blatantly makes us aware of the dangers of tanning. 
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push([‘_setAccount’, ‘UA-20949449-1’]);
_gaq.push([‘_trackPageview’]);

(function() {
var ga = document.createElement(‘script’); ga.type = ‘text/javascript’; ga.async = true;
ga.src = (‘https:’ == document.location.protocol ? ‘https://ssl’ : ‘https://www’) + ‘.google-analytics.com/ga.js’;
var s = document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();

I started using a tanning bed in high school, first for prom, then for a Spring Break cruise. While I didn’t tan consistently, just one time in a tanning bed does permanent damage and increases the risk for skin cancer. After high school, I went off to college in a small mountain town that had freezing cold winters. But like many other girls, I wanted to be “tan” even though it’s completely unnatural to have a tan in the middle of winter. So I purchased a membership to a local tanning salon, and I went once a week or so. Part of me knew about the risks, and it did make me think about what I was doing…but it didn’t stop me from going. I even justified it by wearing a low SPF sunscreen. Looking back, it was stupid. Unfortunately, I can’t take it back. Luckily for me though, I came to my senses during my second year of college and canceled my tanning membership. I started relying on self-tanning lotions to get a “glow”, which is a much safer alternative if you feel the need to be tan. I can’t undo the damage that tanning beds did to my skin in the past, but I can work hard now to protect my skin from further sun damage. I was also a lifeguard from the time I was 16 until just last year – so I baked in the sun for 6 years outdoors. However, I was much more diligent about sunscreen and reapplying sunscreen (and sitting in the shade!) while lifeguarding. That may not completely prevent sun damage, but at least I took more of an initiative to be as safe as possible in the sun.

Fast forward to the present – I was reading Alyssa’s post about her rude awakening with skin cancer, and it made me anxious to have my own skin check done. I was admittedly nervous about it. I felt sure that I had suspicious spots on multiple areas of my skin. I worked up the courage to make an appointment, and I showed up not knowing what to expect. I saw a doctor at a local dermatology office, who glanced over my skin and declared my skin and moles perfectly fine. I wasn’t happy with this answer, since I had noticed several spots that I deemed suspicious. I told her about my lifeguarding and baking-in-the-sun past, and questioned her about specific spots on my skin. She said I was in the clear, but to continue to get a yearly skin check. I left the doctor’s office feeling surprisingly uncertain about her evaluation. My uneasiness led me to making another appointment, this time with the same PA that Alyssa saw, the one who gave Alyssa her skin cancer diagnosis. I had heard good things about this PA, so I decided I needed a second opinion. I made an appointment right away. I went into this appointment feeling optimistic that I would have a better experience, and trust me when I say that this dermatologist is AWESOME. She was SO thorough and I immediately felt like she knew what she was talking about. In fact, within 2 minutes of her looking at my skin, she noticed a spot on my arm…a spot that I remembered seeing before and thinking it was suspicious. She ended up taking a biopsy right then, by shaving off part of the mole. It didn’t even hurt. I was told to expect a 2+ week wait for the results, but it ended up taking nearly 3 weeks. I got a call today – the mole in question is “atypical” and will have to be removed and I’ll be getting stitches in my arm. Next Thursday, in fact. To say this is a wake up call is an understatement. While I don’t use tanning beds anymore (and never will – also, my future children never will either), I still could improve my sun safety skills during the summer. Needless to say, I plan to be more careful from now on. I’m SO thankful for Alyssa’s post AND her dermatologist recommendation. It’s scary to think that I could have just had that first consultation, in which my skin looked “fine” and not gone back for an entire year. I don’t know what this says about our doctors, but if you have any doubts – always get a second opinion. And PLEASE go get your skin checked (and wear sunscreen!) – once a year is the recommendation for a skin check. It’s worth it.

If you’re in the Hampton Roads area, and would like to know more about the dermatologist I went to, send me an email at laviefabuleuse@gmail.com. 

Related Posts

  • Favorite Time of Year {and Naturalizer winner!}

    Fall is my favorite time of year...if that wasn't already obvious from my latest blog…

  • Life as a Stay-at-Home Mama {Reality Check}

    Whew. Where to begin. Months ago, I made a goal of staying home with Blair…

  • My Skincare Routine

    It's no secret that I love my Rodan+Fields skincare products - but I wanted to…

4 Comments Categories: Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Lin Shijun says

    July 3, 2015 at 3:10 am

    SHIJUN 7.3
    timberland uk
    michael kors outlet online
    cheap oakley sunglasses
    gucci handbags
    copy watches
    christian louboutin outlet
    cheap toms
    ray ban wayfarer
    juicy couture handbags
    abercrombie
    michael kors outlet
    ray ban outlet
    air max uk
    michael kors outlet
    louis vuitton outlet
    knockoff watches
    christian louboutin
    jordan 11
    polo ralph lauren
    louis vuitton
    marc jacobs
    louis vuitton
    louis vuitton outlet
    michael kors bags
    michael kors uk
    insanity dvd sale
    cheap oakleys
    coach outlet store online
    michael kors outlet
    coach outlet
    gucci handbags
    cheap toms
    ralph lauren home
    cheap oakleys
    louis vuitton handbags
    louboutin
    kate spade diaper bag
    gucci bags
    christian louboutin outlet
    coach outlet

    Reply
  2. mao qiuyun says

    August 4, 2015 at 3:33 am

    michael kors uk
    oakley sunglasses
    giuseppe zanotti outlet
    coach outlet canada
    chicago bears jerseys
    pandora jewelry
    christian louboutin sale
    los angeles lakers jerseys
    tory burch outlet
    kate spade handbags
    mcm bags
    coach outlet online
    ray ban sunglasses
    valentino shoes
    canada goose outlet
    louis vuitton outlet
    toms shoes
    nike outlet store
    louis vuitton handbags
    hollister pas cher
    rolex watches uk
    manchester united jersey
    nike air max uk
    nike trainers
    oakley sunglasses
    cheap ray ban sunglasses
    kate spade outlet
    tiffany and co
    instyler
    herve leger
    valentino outlet
    coach factory outlet
    ugg boots
    asics running shoes
    louis vuitton handbags
    replica watches
    supra shoes
    oakley sunglasses
    air jordan shoes
    kate spade outlet
    0804maoqiuyun

    Reply
  3. Minko Chen says

    October 23, 2015 at 2:16 am

    longchamp handbags outlet
    nike mercurial
    chanel handbags outlet
    christian louboutin,louboutin,louboutin outlet,louboutin outlet italia,scarpe louboutin
    cheap nfl jersey
    mulberry outlet store
    north face outlet
    parajumpers outlet
    baltimore ravens
    christian louboutin outlet
    nike air huarache
    snapbacks wholesale
    boston celtics
    woolrich outlet store
    nike air huarache
    coach outlet online
    salomon shoes
    rolex watches,rolex watches,swiss watches,watches for men,watches for women,omega watches,replica watches,rolex watches for sale,rolex replica,rolex watch,cartier watches,rolex submariner,fake rolex,rolex replica watches,replica rolex
    swarovski crystal
    1023MINKO

    Reply
  4. chenlina says

    December 17, 2015 at 3:50 am

    chenlina20151217
    coach outlet store online
    ugg sale
    christian louboutin shoes
    ray ban sunglasses outlet
    gucci outlet
    polo ralph lauren
    official coach factory outlet
    swarovski outlet
    burberry outlet
    michael kors outlet
    uggs on sale
    celine outlet
    michael kors outlet stores
    kids uggs on sale
    canada goose outlet online
    oakley sunglasses
    pandora outlet
    canada goose jackets
    toms outlet
    coach outlet online
    abercrombie kids
    abercrombie
    jordan retro
    air force 1
    oakley sunglasses
    polo ralph lauren outlet
    cheap uggs
    replica watches
    ugg sale
    michael kors outlet online
    kate spade handbags
    louis vuitton
    ugg boots outlet
    louis vuitton purses
    uggs for men
    michael kors outlet
    beats by dre
    louis vuitton outlet
    ugg boots
    michael kors outlet
    as

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Me

Hi y'all! I'm Brittany, a wife, mama to three little ladies and the creator behind Dreams + Coffee, a North Carolina lifestyle blog. Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on my latest family, food, health and lifestyle posts.

read more
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Categories

Search

Follow
BrandBacker Member

Subscribe

Follow My Instagram

brittanywboyce

Wife | Girl mama | Pure Barre & Peloton obsessed | Dairy + gluten free | Blogger | Freelance writer | Owner @somethingbleuclt | CLT

Brittany | Mom Life + Style
Is it possible to get 3 kids to smile for a photo? Is it possible to get 3 kids to smile for a photo? Asking for a friend. 
.
.
.
.
Okay, it’s me. I’m the friend. 🤣
.
.
.
.
.
.
Happiest birthday to our SIX year old 🥳 Can har Happiest birthday to our SIX year old 🥳 Can hardly believe it — it seems like yesterday you were just a baby 🥲 You’re the sweetest, cutest and most fun little lady and we love your sense of humor and kind heart 🥰 We love you, Blakely Camille 😘
Happiest birthday to our sweetest THREE year old! Happiest birthday to our sweetest THREE year old! 💕 You’re funny, adorable and a little firecracker who keeps us on our toes all the time 😆 I love how much you love to snuggle and your big hugs 😍 Can’t believe you’re headed to preschool this fall — it feels like you were just born 😭  We love you, Brynn Eleanor 😘
Vacay szn ☀️ Been counting down all summer for Vacay szn ☀️ Been counting down all summer for this little break from reality…I mean, as much of a break as one can have when there are 3 kids involved 🤪😂
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
WFH kitty 🐱 . . . . . . . . . . . WFH kitty 🐱 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Besties already 😘 . . . . . . . Besties already 😘
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Red, white & bleu ❤️🤍💙 A festive cheeseb Red, white & bleu ❤️🤍💙 A festive cheeseboard is easier than you think! Focus on finding ingredients in your desired colors - red grapes, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, blue cheese, wine-soaked cheese, Brie, preserves, and patriotic touches 🇺🇸
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I’m not sure what to do with my hands 🤷🏼‍♀️😆
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Load More... Follow Me on Insta
Design by SkyandStars.co
Back Top

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.