Spray Tan vs Tanning Beds

  Tanning Bed - 7 sessions   /     Spray Tan over existing Tan

In just 10 minutes you can achieve the same results as 7 tanning bed sessions or many, many hours in the sun!

 

How long does it take to get a tan?
 
Tanning Beds: While some may notice significant results in just a few sessions, it can take others several weeks of tanning three times a week to get a “base tan”.  Output of the tanning equipment and the tanning lamps is also a factor.  Just as a tan will gradually fade away, you must gradually build it by tanning at least every other day for at least 6 sessions.  If tanning for an event, you should start your tanning sessions no later than one week to ensure a base tan by the upcoming date.

Spray Tan:  A single tanning session for a custom spray tan generally takes about 10 minutes.  The ingredient in the solution which actually reacts with the outer layer of skin producing a tan effect typically needs 6 to 8 hours to "set" the tan.  Some companies offer a Rapid Tan, which can produce the same effect in only 2 to 4 hours.  Although most Spray Tan companies encourage clients to wait until the next morning to shower, this will give your tan the maximum benefits.

How long will my tan last?

 Tanning Beds:  From the last time you tan, your tan should last anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks.  There are several ways to prolong a tan from a tanning bed.  Of course to maintain your tan, you should regularly use a tanning bed at least 1 to 3 times a week.  Other ways to prolong your tan include using a self-tanning lotion with a bronzer, frequently moisturizing to put back what is being taken out from the beds, and staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water.  Dry skin will cause your tan to look uneven and splotchy more quickly, so it's in your best interest to keep your skin hydrated.  This will prolong your tan and ensure it fades evenly.

Spray Tan:  Most Spray Tans will last on average 5 to 10 days.  As with Tanning Beds or laying out, how long your tan lasts has a lot to do with how well you take care of your skin.  To prolong your sunless tan and ensure even fading, it is extremely important to stay moisturized and keep your skin hydrated.  It is recommended to moisturize 2 to 3 times a day, but be careful what you are using as a moisturizer as some will actually break the tan down more quickly.   No matter how you tan, your skin naturally sheds each and every day, allowing new skin cells to come to the surface.  This will of course cause fading of  your tan.

What are the dangers? 

Tanning Beds:  Tanning beds are commonly associated with skin cancer and contribute to premature aging. There is no way to combat either other than to stay out of tanning beds. Tanning beds should not be used for pregnant women or women who are nursing. Also, consult your doctor before tanning in a bed to be sure there will be no reactions from any medications you may be taking, and always wear protective goggles over your eyes when tanning in a tanning bed as UV exposure can be damaging to the eyes.

Spray Tan:  Should only be used for topical application.  Spray Tans should not be inhaled, sprayed into the eyes, or directly onto private areas.  Always keep your mouth closed during application, and tuck lips or wear lip balm as a barrier.  Nose plugs are also recommended to prevent inhalation of the solution.  When Spray Tanning the face, close your eyes completely and hold your breath.

What do I get for the price?

Tanning Beds:  On average the cost is $6 to $12 for a single (walk in) session, or $30 to $80 for monthly package depending on the type of bed used.  What you get:  Natural looking tan developed in an average of 5 to 7 sessions.  Benefits of Vitamin D.  Increased risk of developing skin cancer.  Proven increase in wrinkles and aging of the skin.

Spray Tan:  On average the cost is $25 to $40 for a single session, mobile spray tanning services tend to run about $10 more.  What you get:  Natural looking tan fully developed in about 12 to 24 hours.  The convenience of a mobile service coming to your location.  Safe alternative to UV tanning, which puts moisture back into your skin rather than taking it out.  Most Spray Tan solutions are loaded with Vitamins, antioxidants, anti-aging, skin firming, and skin rejuvenating properties.  Helping reverse skin damage and promote healthier, younger looking skin.

When it comes to tanning, please be safe and make the right decisions.  Not only for Now but for what’s to come in your Future!

It seems with Spray Tanning you really do get what you pay for!!

Part 2 of 1st time Spray Tanner - The Morning After

the morning after my virgin bronze body experience

Posted on May 27, 2011 by charlierobinson

So, standing in the shower looking down at my feet this morning i had the time to reflect my actions of the night before. There in front of me was a brown puddle… Kim had said this would happen. It’s the leftover “stuff” from the spray washing away. Glad i wore my full length jammies to bed (actually a trackie LOL).



Just before entering the shower i had a decent look at my skin all over. To be frank it looked a bit weird!! but by the time the shower was finished i was so excited… my skin looked so naturally brown I felt like “Yep, I’ve just been to Bali!!“. I aint showing the full effect but i WILL show you a bit of my leg and my smile!!

By tomorrow it will be perfect for the ball. yah – I’m liking this… yah

I’m really happy with the result. I have sensitive skin and everything is aOK.

What's in your Tanning Bed?

Plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon uses a black light to reveal the germs, bacteria and fecal matter lurking in tanning beds.  Check out the video below.

Video:  Tanning bed dangers

Great Blog from a 1st time Spray Tanner!

My very own virgin Bronze Body

Posted on May 26, 2011 by charlierobinson

 

 

 

I’m no longer a virgin!!

Had a very gorgeous experience tonight. I was made to feel very special (maybe cause they knew I’d write a a blog… ahahaaa noooo not true) by both Kim and Merv. Kim looked after me really well for the spray tan but yes, I was exceptionally nervous. Gosh. I was shaking walking up the stairs. I’m not a girlie girl but I can be adventurous… so willing to give it a go. Perfect excuse with a ball coming up on Saturday, so hence why i was there. Bludy good excuse!

Now, my 45 yr old body isnt used to stripping off to my little bits in the middle of winter to have a chick stand there and spray her with cold “stuff” but Kim kept me focused and kept it quick. She didnt believe I hadnt done it before saying I was a natural knowing all the moves… errr no, I was just being a very good girl so I could get it over with REAL QUICK. I was behaving. Might have been a first for that to – but I was. Seriously.

And on a serious note – and because Im a complete nerd and not a girlie girl – I was completely fascinated by the precision and movement to make sure I was sprayed accurately ALL OVER. Move this bit, turn that, bend over (oops glad the G was on ahaha) ummm yes!! All good. Kim was great through it all.  Thanks huni… now I just cant wait til tomorrow so I can what it all looks like after my shower. On saturday I’ll be proclaiming I have just returned from Bali!! yeeeeeah baby

Spray On Tan: Easiest Way to Get that Coveted Tan Look

People nowadays will try every possible way to get a gorgeous tan. Medicines, sun tanning baths, sprays and other methods have been constructed with the aim of providing this popular human need. All over the world, more and more people are falling in love with the tan look that sadly, most people are not lucky enough to be born with. This is a universal phenomenon at work behind many of the invented methods of tanning that we are blessed to have today. Among the many methods to get the artificial tan, the Spray On Tan is among those which have received popular attention.

Convenient

Convenience is one of the best things that can be said when we talk of Spray On Tan. Among the many tanning methods, this one can be said as the most convenient, hassle and pain free method that you could choose if you want that perfect tan. In a society where the need for tanning is a recognized need, the battle lies on finding one that can give the needed tanning results in the most convenient fashion.

Avoid the risk of UV exposure

Everybody wants to get a tan without the cancer risks, burns, premature aging and other inconvenience. This quality makes the spray on tanning method a truly nice and preferred way to get a tan.

Fast tanning

If you want instant tan results, then Spray On Tan is the way to go. The results are very quick so you do not have to wait anxiously for the color change to set in. This characteristic could be very desirable especially of you need that tan in a very fast manner or for an upcoming event. Nothing can beat convenience and fast results as top characteristics that people look for in a tanning method.

The perfect color

With the spray tan, the user has the chance of manipulating the color to be applied so that you get the perfect tan that you could ever wish for. Avoid the mistake of getting a tan that is darker or lighter than what you want. Spray tanning does not let you fall to this mistake, thus saving your whole tanning experience. It is indeed understandable how some people will love spray tanning because it will provide the most excellent tan color that you could ever imagine. Hence, it is not surprising that this method of tanning is already a popular and widely used one.

WestCoast Tanning Co. - A Mobile Spray Tanning Service

We invite everyone here in Great Falls, to check out our website, www.wctan.com, and feel free to send us a message or call if you have any questions!  WestCoast Tanning Co.  started "officially" back in 2008 in San Antonio, TX.  In our 3 years in San Antonio, we built a wonderful clientele (we really miss you guys), including competitors in body building and beauty pageants. 

Due to a military PCS move, we have now arrived in Great Falls...........and we love it!  We would like to introduce our unique service to everyone here. 

Spray tanning is growing in popularity due to numerous reasons, one of the most obvious is the fact that it is the only way to tan safely.  We are not here to tell you not to go out in the sun, or lay out by the pool, or even use tanning beds......but we do want you to understand the dangers and be smart when it comes to tanning.  If you are a tanner, a professional spray tan can compliment your already existing tan, help even it out, creating a smoother looking tan, plus it can allow you to give your body/skin a break from the UV exposure.  Too much UV radiation (yes it is a form of radiation) is harmful, damaging your skin, even causing pre-mature aging......and who wants that?!

Last year Texas passed some of the most restrictive tanning laws in the country, specifically for teens who tan.  Here in Montana, there are no regulations for tanning.  With an alarming growth in the number of skin cancer cases, and the fact that those cases are increasing in young females, and even resulting in unnecessary deaths, we at WestCoast Tanning Co. want to express our concern and let everyone know that they do have an alternative. 

Our custom spray tans are organic, with potent age fighting, skin firming and cell rejuvenation properties, loaded with Vitamins A & E – anti-oxidants, the exact same solution used by many Celebrities today!  Instead of damaging your skin, we fortify and nourish it. 

WestCoast Tanning Co. will not only fulfill your tanning needs we will  surpass your expectations!  In just 10 minutes you will have an instant tan and immediate satisfaction..........plus, we can come to you with our mobile spray tanning service!  Visit our website and let us know what you think.  We look  forward to hearing from you soon!

Get ready for ‘Don’t Fry Day’

I’m not talking about chicken or french fries here, people, I’m talking about your skin.  May 27, the Friday before Memorial Day, is national “Don’t Fry Day,” though every day should call for as much vigilance.

Skin cancer is a serious disease and all of us — regardless of the lightness or darkness of our skin — should be paying attention to any changes on our outer layer, wearing sunscreen, staying out of tanning beds and encouraging our loved ones to do the same.


Avoid this by wearing hats and sunscreen!

Some more tips from SkinCancerPrevention.org and the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention:
Because no single step can fully protect you and your family from overexposure to UV radiation, follow as many of the following tips as possible:

• Avoid sun burning, intentional tanning, and using tanning beds.
• Apply sunscreen generously
• Wear sun-protective clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses.
• Seek shade.
• Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand.
• Get vitamin D safely through food and vitamin D supplements.

If your skin damage is already done, don’t despair … but do get to your dermatologist ASAP for a check up. Skin cancer is deadly, but it’s often curable if caught early.

FotoFinder: Mobile skin cancer screening with iPhone

 

 

handyscope is the first device for mobile skin cancer examinations with the iPhone. This digital handheld dermatoscope allows doctors capturing and saving microscopic pictures of moles using iPhone, handyscope device and corresponding App. After launching in Europe and the USA, handyscope is presented in Asia at the World Congress of Dermatology in Seoul from May 24-29, 2011.


Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/business/FotoFinder+Mobile+skin+cancer+screening+with+iPhone/4772150/story.html?cid=megadrop_story#ixzz1Mm5HpEXO

A Spray Tan That Comes To You

Do you like spray tans?  Do you really, really like instant gratification?  Well, you're in luck, at least if you live in Great Falls, MT.  Recently, a company called WestCoast Tanning Co. moved into town offering a mobile tanning service that's based right here in Great Falls, but will travel throughout the State depending on the number of participants there are for a WestCoast Spray Tan Party. The company has a portable spray tan booth available for dispatching anywhere (and they do mean anywhere—at work, your house, a parking lot...).  A technician zooms to your chosen destination, unloads the booth, and 10 minutes later, you're tan.
 
Take a look at their website, www.wctan.com, for prices, photos of happy clients, and to book an appointment online.  A single mobile session for one person will cost $40, although they do have Spray Tan Packages that offer discounted rates, and with their WestCoast Spray Tan Parties, the more that tan the less everyone pays!!

Pippa Middleton Sparks Uptick in Self Tanner Sales

During the royal wedding, all eyes were supposed to be on Kate Middleton. But people were really looking at her younger sister, Pippa Middleton, and Pippa's tan.

The Daily Mail reports that, since the wedding, sales of self-tanner at British department store Debenhams has risen 200-percent over sales in the same month last year. Clearly pale skin is no longer in and a royal glow is de rigueur. Hopefully, people stick to tan in a can, rather than tanning booths. A golden glow is gorgeous, but skin cancer isn't!

We knew the Middleton sisters had power over what clothes people bought, but who knew they'd influence tanning habits as well!

Former 'tanning addict' describes cancer fight .

Video from Portland News Channel 8

http://www.kgw.com/news/local/Self-described-tanning-addict-describes-cancer-fight-121958069.html

by Keely Chalmers, KGW Staff

kgw.com

Posted on May 16, 2011 at 5:20 PM

Updated today at 5:25 PM

PORTLAND -- Here in the Pacific Northwest many of us long for that "sun-kissed" skin. As a result some people turn to tanning beds or head out into the sun with little or no protection. But doing so increases the risk of one of the deadliest forms of cancer.

In her teens, fair-skinned Ashley Trenner longed to be tan. She said she started using tanning beds when she was in high school.  “If I was out in the sunshine I certainly wasn't using sunscreen,” Trenner said.
She continued her love of sunshine and tanning beds throughout her 20's, until one day seven years ago.
“I had noticed a black spot underneath my skin that looked like a pencil lead or a stitch,” she explained.
Thinking it was nothing serious, and because she did not have insurance, she decided not to go to the doctor. Within a year it grew to the size of a quarter.  One day while taking a shower it became excruciatingly painful. It was then that Trenner knew she had to see a doctor.  “He removed it," she said. "Two days later the doctor called me back and said, 'Ashley, I have bad news for you: It’s malignant melanoma.'”

The cancer had spread into her lymph nodes. She immediately underwent treatment and was cancer-free for three years, until she found a lump.  “I think right that very second I knew what it was,” Trenner said.
The melanoma had returned. In the months following, she would go through several different treatments, but the cancer remained and eventually spread into her upper back, liver and lungs.  “My doctor recommended I come down here and see Dr. Curti and to do OncoVEX,” Trenner explained.

So every few weeks she travels from her home in Seattle to the Providence Cancer Center in Portland to participate in a research study led by Dr. Brendan Curti.  “This particular treatment that she’s currently getting is actually a genetically modified virus,” said Dr. Curti.  Doctors inject the virus directly into the tumors which, in turn, infects the melanoma. The goal is to get Ashley’s own immune system to fight the infection.
“The hope is that the immune response would be so strong that it will eradicate the melanoma cells however they may be in the body,” said Dr. Curti.  He said it was too early to tell if the treatment was working on Trenner. But she remains hopeful and is using her experience to teach others about the dangers of tanning.

“I told my best friend I didn’t care if I died, as long as I died tan,” Trenner admitted.
As the fight for her life continued, she wished she had never said those words.

May is skin cancer awareness month.
Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Providence Portland Medical Center is hosting a free skin cancer screening.

Please Watch This Video & Share It With Others

An important message that is all too often dismissed until it affects you personally.   Please watch and share with everyone you know and love!

A 14 year olds story about Skin Cancer

Another article from 17 magazine.

I Never Bothered to Wear Sunscreen

It doesn't matter how fair or tan your skin naturally is, not practicing sun safety or using the tanning bed just one time will increase your chances of getting skin cancer. Laura learned this lesson after getting melanoma at the young age of 13!

“Growing up, I never thought about wearing sunscreen—my skin always tanned easily, so I figured it was no big deal. Last year, when I was 13, we were going on vacation to Hawaii, so I bought a tanning package to get ready for the trip. (Editor’s note: In Illinois, it is illegal to use a tanning bed under the age of 14, but no one asked for Laura’s I.D.) A few months later, I noticed that a mark had formed on my chest—I never had a mole there before. It turned out to be melanoma, and the doctors found a birthmark that had become cancerous, too. I had to have two surgeries, and each one required about 20 stitches. Thankfully they were able to get all of the cancerous cells out, but now I have to check my skin and my lymph nodes every month, because the cancer could come back. I know that I have to be careful in the sun—and take much better precautions for the rest of my life.”

—Laura, 14,

“I Got Skin Cancer at 17”

Story featured in Seventeen magazine.

Even if you use a tanning bed only once in your teens, your risk for melanoma — the deadliest skin cancer — increases by 75 percent. But it’s easy to stop this harmful beauty habit when you know the facts. Katie Donnar learned the hard way how harmful tanning beds can be.

"I tried tanning for the first time in sixth grade. I was a cheerleader, and I felt like the pale girl on the team. Everyone on the squad was tanning, and I wasn’t the best one either, so it seemed like I really stood out. We had the same outfits and makeup, so we thought our skin tones should match too. Plus, tanning before a competition gave me confidence, because it helped me blend in with my team.

By the time I got to high school, I was tanning every other day. My family even bought me a tanning bed! We hoped it would save money — the monthly payments were $75, and I’d been spending $100 a month to tan at the salon. That summer, I noticed a strange mole on my leg.

I had read a story in Seventeen about checking moles, and some of the descriptions of the abnormal ones matched mine. I asked my mom to make a dermatologist appointment, but we couldn’t get in for nine months, because there was only one dermatologist in our county.

I wasn’t that worried, but my family doctor noticed the mole during a routine checkup — and got an appointment for me the next day! That freaked me out. A week later, I had the mole removed and I thought everything would be fine.

But then a few days later, my dad told me that we needed to talk. He said, "The doctor just got your test results. You have malignant melanoma," the deadliest form of skin cancer. Skin cancer? I thought only old people got that. "Dad, I’m 17. I don’t get skin cancer," I said. I sat there in silence. Finally, I asked, "Can I die from this?" He tried to reassure me that they caught it early and I would be okay, but I could see he was scared too.

Two weeks later, we went to a melanoma specialist who removed an inch of flesh, half a centimeter deep, around where my mole had been. There’s still an indentation from the chunk of skin that was taken out. And the cancer could still come back, which haunts me every day. I have to get skin checks with a dermatologist every four months, and check my lymph nodes for swelling because the cancer could resurface there and spread.

Now I never tan (only spray tan) — though some of my friends still do. They don’t get it. So many girls think that cancer is a far-in-the-future risk, but you’re actually hurting your body now. I’m just glad I have the chance to tell someone who’s using tanning beds to make a better decision."

—Katie Donnar, 19

Top 8 Shocking Facts About Skin Cancer

1. About 90% of non-melanoma skin cancer is caused by ultra-violet exposure.

The UV rays of the sun are responsible for most non-melanoma skin cancers. Unprotected exposure to these rays can come from being outdoors, lying in tanning beds, and even having exposure through your car or home windows.

2. One person dies from melanoma almost every hour.

A common misconception is that you cannot die from skin cancer. Unfortunately, about 8,000 people will die of melanoma in the U.S. this year. It is estimated that 2,800 people will die of non-melanoma skin cancer this year as well. The sad thing is that most of these deaths could have been prevented by following easy skin cancer prevention methods.

3. Skin cancer accounts for nearly 50% of all cancers combined.

Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer among men and women.  Exposure to UV rays through natural and artifical means is the culprit. Since skin cancer is such a common type of cancer, it is advised that everyone examine their skin at home and undergo a yearly clinical skin exam by their doctor.

4. More than one million cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed this year.

The American Cancer Society estimates that 1.5 million cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed this year, a number that is expectetd to continually rise. The culprit? Exposure to harmful UV rays from the sun and artificial means like tanning beds.

5. Skin cancer is most deadly for African Americans, Asians, and Latinos.

The risk of developing melanoma is rather low for African Americans, Asians, and Latinos, however this type of skin cancer is typically more deadly for these groups. You should know that all people are at risk of developing skin cancer, regardless of ethnicity.

6. One in Three Caucasians will be diagnosed with skin cancer.

One in five Americans will be diagnosed in their lifetime with skin cancer. The risk is higher for white individuals: one in three.

7. Just one bad burn in childhood increases the risk of developing melanoma later.

Protecting children against UV exposure is essential for healthy skin into adulthood. A single blistering sunburn during childhood increases the risk of melanoma as an adult.

8. Men are diagnosed with skin cancer more often than women.

Did you know that men are twice as likely to develop skin cancer than women? In fact, skin cancer is more common than prostate cancer, lung cancer, and colon cancer in men over 50. This makes skin cancer the most common type of  cancer in men over 50.

FREE Skin Cancer Screening in MAY

The purpose of our blog this month is to focus on Sun & UV safety, and bring attention to a rapidly growing problem especially among young adults and teens.   Exposure to the Sun and Tanning Beds DOES increase your chance of developing Skin Cancer, wrinkles, sunspots, and pre-mature aging.  We ask you to please be careful and check yourself or visit your doctor for a screening.  Early detection is key when it comes to any form of cancer.

Throughout the month of May, many cities around the country are having FREE screenings to catch Skin Cancer early.   Don't wait until it's too late.........See Spot.........Check Spot!

Also, if you have a personal story about Skin Cancer and would like to share so others may be educated/warned about this disease, please feel free to leave a comment on our blog, or you can email us your story at  blogspot@wctan.com, and we will post it here for you.

True Story: I Have Melanoma

23 is a young age for a lot of things.  It is a young age to be a mother, to be on your own, to lose a friend, or to have cancer.  Yet, all of these things and more happen to young people every day.

It was a cold day in November when I got the phone call from the dermatologist telling me my results were back and I needed to come into the office the same day.  As I put down the phone, I looked at my boyfriend and nervously laughed and said, “Well that can’t be good.”  Since I am a full time student, I had to go to class before I could even think about heading to a doctor.  I sat through the hour and fifteen minute class thinking that maybe I was being silly and everything was going to be fine.  Surely a girl who is 23 years old, outgoing, determined, and full of life could not have cancer.  It had to be something else.

The drive to the office took too long and I called my mom on the way to deter some thoughts.  She immediately went into full panic mode and I couldn’t understand why.  By the time I arrived at the doctor, she had called five times to find out what was wrong but they wouldn’t tell her because I am an adult.  I sat alone in the room and waited for the nurse practitioner.  She was the only that would see me that day because the doctor was too busy.  She sat down and said, “Katie, you have level four Melanoma and the next step is for you to go see a surgeon in St. Louis to have the tumor removed.”

It’s hard to explain what I was feeling at the moment I was processing everything she was saying.  I don’t really know if I was feeling anything but disbelief.  I’m not sure that I was even processing it.  I just shook my head like I was some kind of bobble head so she knew I was still listening.  The strangest thing, after looking back on it all, is the feeling that I just wanted to please her or that I couldn’t cry because I needed to be strong.  I asked her different questions about what the biopsy meant and she couldn’t tell me.  At this point the hardest thing was that she didn’t know the details or the main question everyone wanted to know:
Was I going to die?

As I waited for my mom in the room, I went numb.  I thought back to all the years I laid in tanning beds and knew it was bad but didn’t trust my instincts.  Most fake-bakers out there will know what feeling I’m talking about; that gnawing feeling that this is bad for you.  This is bad for you like any other bad habit, but you’re young and healthy and nothing could ever hurt you.  You’ve seen the little sign on the side of the tanning bed but you still step in with the certainty that those signs are just for legalities and don’t pertain to you.

I started to cry and was slightly embarrassed.  I was embarrassed because I didn’t even know what I was crying for.  I didn’t even know if this was serious or not.  I was just like any other person, and didn’t really know what Melanoma was or how deadly it can be.  But I had the “Big C” and so I cried.  I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be feeling.  I knew they had probably diagnosed a lot of people who had lived full lives with Melanoma, but I was different.  How is a 23 year old who just found she has cancer supposed to act?

Two weeks later, I had MOHS surgery to have the tumor removed and I had some lymph nodes removed as well.  When I woke up from the surgery, I was in a lot of pain and I needed a month’s worth of physical therapy to get my arm back to working right.  The next time I saw the surgeon, he was unsure whether they had found more cancer further up my arm.  It was all very confusing and I thought I would have to go on chemotherapy.  This is when it all became too real.  I started to wonder if I was going to be a statistic for Melanoma deaths rather than for Melanoma survivors.

After weeks of research, I found a Melanoma clinic in the area that examined my slides and they didn’t believe I still had Melanoma.  I wonder everyday who it is I should be listening to and how I can save myself.  After having all different kinds of scans, it is still unclear if I still have cancer and all I can really do is to check my skin and lymph nodes every three months with a specialist.  Since I am on a full-ride scholarship and can’t risk losing it by missing classes, I have left chemo out of the equation until someone can give me a definite answer.  Some people may think this is a risky choice but this has been a big financial burden for me, so the last thing I need to do is lose my scholarship and make it worse.

Melanoma is a very sneaky cancer because, like my mole, it does not always look like the typical Melanoma.  The only reason I was concerned about it was because it itched.  Melanoma diagnosis increase by 3.1 percent each year and it is being found more and more in young Caucasian females.  Melanoma is the most common form of skin cancer in young adults 25-29 years old, and the second most common form of cancer in adolescents and young adults 15-29 years old. The scariest facts on Melanoma are that 75 percent of skin cancer deaths are related to Melanoma and someone dies from Melanoma every 61 minutes.  This is obviously something that needs to be taken seriously because young adults are being diagnosed at an increasingly alarming rate.  Still, no one my age understands or believe that it could happen to them.  Young adults never believe they are invincible.  I am here to tell you, you are not. It can happen to you and it is completely preventable.

MAY IS SKIN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

During the month of May, in recognition of Skin Cancer Awareness Month, WestCoast Tanning Co. will donate a portion of all proceeds to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Book yourself a Spray Tan today and help fight Cancer!  http://www.wctan.com/