From the age of 16 to 25, Carrie Searcy, used sunbeds up to three times a week to sustain a ‘model tan’.
Now she’s warning others not to follow in her footsteps, after she was diagnosed with deadly skin cancer.
Carrie, a marketing specialist and mum of one, noticed a white ‘waxy-looking’ spot on her forehead when she was in her 30s.
After at-home beauty treatments didn’t get rid of it, she went to her dermatologist.
A biopsy revealed that Carrie had basal cell carcinoma and would need surgery just weeks later.
The six-hour-long operation removed a 10p sized chunk from her forehead, leaving Carrie with a four-inch scar on her face.
Carrie, now 38, said: ‘For nine years I was obsessed with looking as tanned as I could – I would go on sunbeds three times a week and never wear suncream.
‘I would see models in magazines or on TV and think that was how tanned I needed to be, so would do whatever it took to get there.
‘But then a couple of years ago I noticed a white spot on my forehead and it started to get bigger, whiter and waxy looking.
‘The spot was about the size of my fingertip so I honestly thought the surgery would be fine, but the nurse told me that cancer is like an iceberg – it’s always bigger under the surface.’
The surgery and the resulting scar caused a dip in Carrie’s self-confidence.
She has learned that risking health for the sake of a tan just isn’t worth it, and is sharing her story to warn others of the very real risks of hitting the sunbed.
‘When I saw the stitches I was terrified – I cried and cried because I realised just how big the scar was and, in turn, how much cancer there must have been,’ said Carrie.
‘There are two layers of stitches in my wound and the top ones come out next week, whilst the ones underneath will dissolve.
‘This whole experience has shown me that tanning isn’t worth it – there are safer alternatives to achieve the tanned look and sunbeds or sun exposure are not necessary.’
MORE: Woman who wrote ‘f**k cancer’ on her face after being covered in bruises dies aged 28
source https://metro.co.uk/2020/01/22/mum-begs-strangers-not-use-sunbeds-nine-years-tanning-left-skin-cancer-12100295/
0 Comments