Solarium and skin cancer: – Warns of nightmares of disease

Since American Julie Elrod (56) was 24, she regularly used a solarium and sunbathed outdoors at every opportunity.

– When I was in my late teens, I started thinking that being brown made me prettier and sexier, she tells Kennedy News and Media.

– The biggest mistake

Not only did he use the solarium several times a week, but he also stayed there for as long as possible, preferably eight or 12 minutes.

– Before I started using the solarium, I lay in the sun for a couple of hours every day. I slathered myself in baby oil. I loved the way I looked, I hated being pale, says the Tampa, Florida mother of two.

She admits she didn’t think about what she was doing with her skin, or what dangers she was exposing herself to.

– I’ve never used sunscreen. I spent every single second I could in the sun, and that’s the biggest mistake I’ve ever made.

Spot on the forehead

At the age of 36, he discovered a spot on his forehead. When the spot didn’t disappear, she saw a doctor and got the alarming message.

– I remember thinking it was scary and being so stupid that I had sunbathed, says the 56-year-old.

Julie had two of the most common types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Basal cell carcinoma is a type of cancer that grows from the basal cells of the epidermis, according to Major medical encyclopedias.

Malin (23) received the horror message: – Terrible

Squamous cell carcinoma is a malignant tumor that develops from the normal squamous cells of the skin and mucous membranes, writes the encyclopedia.

“Peeled” of the skin

Julie underwent a dozen so-called Mohs operations, in which surgeons go in and cut through thin layers of skin to remove skin cancer cells.

– They just removed the cancer from your face. I had to get skin grafts to cover some of the areas where they removed the skin.

This is still not the worst part of the treatment he had to go through. The 56-year-old describes part of the treatment as so painful that she “felt like she wanted to die”.

– The doctor said I should probably get the chemotherapy cream. No one could have prepared me for what I was about to experience. It’s so painful. It’s just like burning your face every single day for a month.

– I would die!

Shocking images show how her skin was “burned” following chemotherapy treatment. Her face is red and bloody.

Karine (50) had her nose on her arm

– There are no filters on the images. That’s exactly how I looked. Every single day I had to re-apply a new cream on top of it. It was like the acid was burning my skin, and it was absolutely horrific, she says and adds:

– I wanted to die. It’s not an exaggeration, it was so terribly painful. It was as if someone had dropped acid on her face, sandblasted it, and blow-torched it—all at the same time!

Despite the frightening diagnosis and harsh treatment, Julie hasn’t been able to break her old habits. She describes herself as “addicted” to the solarium. After the operations, you immediately returned to the bed.

– I had about 500-700 stitches in my face after the operations. I thought it wouldn’t happen to me. I was fully aware of the risks after having the first cancer removed and got a tan anyway. This is the very definition of stupidity. But it’s so addictive, she says.

Warns others

Now she encourages other solarium enthusiasts to quit now, before it’s too late.

– I had to have two more operations and continued to take solariums for six months after that. When I got even more cancer, I realized I had to change my ways, she says.

Today, Julie is almost religious when it comes to using sunscreen. She also regularly goes to the dermatologist to check herself.

– It cost me a lot of money, but it cost me even more emotionally. It’s probably one of the most painful things I’ve ever been through and I don’t want anyone to go through the same thing as me. That’s why I’m now trying to warn people!

Three specific tips

When Julie looks at the sun today, she thinks of the pain she felt. She now has three specific pieces of advice for others who will be staying in the sun:

– You should use sunscreen every time you go out, even if it doesn’t get a lot of sun outside. You also need to stop using the tanning beds — it will kill you, it will ruin your life and your face, she says, adding:

Horror message: – A time bomb

– My last advice is: stop now, because you can’t stop when you’ve already been diagnosed with cancer. Then it’s too late!

Today Julie has a completely different view of things. She’s embraced her pale white she and just thinks it’s silly to sunbathe:

– You might think it’s nice to be tanned, but there’s a pretty high statistical chance you could get cancer!