"It’s truly tragic that so many young people still tan their skin in the name of beauty. It makes me sick when I see fashion models and influencers with deep tans, it gives young people a very dangerous message and I'm living proof of that," says 45-year old Carina, a former model from Somerset.
"My skin is a patchwork of scars from the 22 cancerous moles I've had removed and I've had over 400 stitches and been told numerous times by doctors that I'm lucky to be alive. I used to be a full time model and I still do some modelling work now and then and of course my scars affacted my work, but I don’t care about my scars, in fact I’m proud of them as they remind me of how lucky I am to still be here today,"
The World Health Organization classifies sunbed UV rays as a Group 1 carcinogen and studies suggest that using sunbeds before the age of 35 increases melanoma risk by almost 60%.
Over 20,000 cases of melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed in the UK each year, but despite skin specialists advising that eight out of ten cases of skin cancers are preventable through sun protection,roughly half of Britsh people still get sunburnt at least once a year and over 30% rarely or never use an SPF cream even though the NHS strongly recommends applying a high-protection sunscreen of at least SPF 30 to all exposed skin during periods when the UK between mid-March to mid-October. People who work outside have a 60% higher risk of non-melanoma skin cancer compared to indoor workers.
"I want young people to read my story as a stark reminder of how dangerous pursueing a tan can be. I have naturally very fair skin but I used to tan as a teenager and my parents were pretty lax about sun cream. I got burned quite a few times as a young girl and at 29 years old I developed skin cancer. I had two melanoma tumours removed which almost cost me my life," says Carina.
"I used to love the look of a nice tan abd woud try and have one for as long as I could through the year, but now I'm terrified of the sun. I have a teenager daughter with very fair skin like me and she also has red hair and I have drummed into her the dangers of sunbathing like I did at her age or ever using sunbeds like so many youg people do these days. I have taught her to be proud of her lovely fair skin and not to try and always be tanning like so many young girls do still, despite all the warnings about skin cancer. Young people just do not realise the danger they are putting themselves in.
"I was in a communal changing rooms recently of a fashion store and I saw this girl who took off her top and on her back she had what I knew was a skin melanoma. I had to say something to her but she told me to mind my own business. Later her friend came up to me and said she was sorry and that she would make her go to the doctor to check it out. It scares the hell out of me when I am on the beaches near my home and I see young women tanning themselves to crisps. I would not wish what happened to me on anyone. It’s terrifying and unlike a tan which fades in just a few weeks, the fear of another melanoma appearing is with you for life," says Carina.
"People should bare in mind that a chemical filter SPF, even if it has a higher factor, does not have the same protection for skin as a physical mineral sun block. An SPF30 physical mineral block is the equivalent of approximately SPF50 in a chemical filter SPF, " says consultant dermatologist Dr Eva Melegh.
"Mineral sunscreens contain either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide and they sit on top of the skin and act as a physical shield to deflect the sun’s rays. Chemical sunscreens contain ingredients like avobenzone, oxybenzone, octisalate and octinoxate, and they absorb into your skin and behave like a sponge and soak up UV rays.
"While bother are effective for sunprotection, I always recommend mineral suncreens for anyone with sensitive skin, for children and for people with very pale skin because people should bare in mind that chemical filter SPF's, especially higher ones, can often cause skin reactions in very sensitive skin. For children and adults with sensitive skin , I prefer zinc oxide as a mineral SPF because its the least reactive of the two mineral SPF's and also has an anti inflammatory effect and so is actively benefical for sensitive skin conditions like rosacea,, " says Dr Melegh.
Wearing suncreen all year round is a rule that Carina sticks to no matter what the weather is doing; "I literally never step outside my door without at least factor 30. I've discovered an amazing sun scream called KALME Day Defence SPF30, which contains a totally natural micronized zinc oxide SPF30 in it that offers great sun protection but without chemicals or whiteness on the skin. I'm worried about the chemicals in sun cream because I wear it everyday, so I need to feel secure that what I am putting on my skin is not going to harm me. I love the fact that KALME Day Defence is completely natural yet offers a physical block SPF. It means I can use it every day comes rain or shine without worrying. It makes me feel secure in the sun and that I can get on en enjoy my life without constantly fretting about chemicals on my skin or the sun burning me. The anti-redness ingredient in it also calms down my scars and makes them look less furious," says Carina.
Carina admits she doesn't hide away indoors in nice weather but she is extremely aware of when she goes in the sun and for how long. "Obviously I avoid being out in midday sun nor do I expose my skin for too long to any sun at any time of the day or year.
But I can walk on the beach in the early mornings or in the evenings and enjoy being outside in the sun shine. I always make sure I wear a hat and if the sun is strong even later in the day, I will usualy put on a light shirt to shield the most exposed areas of skin. But for everyday protection a natural SPF30 is ideal. I’d encourage everyone with fair skin to wear an SPF30 every day if they are outside for more than about half an hour, even if its not that sunny."
