If you use solariums, you are a GODAMN FOOL.

This is Clare, who is 26.
Sorry, was 26: She died this morning from skin cancer caused by solarium use.

Please click and read her story in the paper today:

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22410791-2,00.html

A former solarium junkie, Clare Oliver died from aggressive melanoma. Before she died,  she wrote a very moving, if-you-use-solariums-you're-stupid-cause-I-did-and-was-grossly-uninformed-about-their-strength-and-dangers, letter, which will serve as her legacy to those she can save from a similar fate.

In case you didn't know, solariums emit both UVA (ageing) and UVB (burning) rays, which means they are just like lying in the sun, but of course, you don't wear your 30 plus in the solarium, do you? No. You don't. So really, you're just laying there, utterly exposed to skin-cancer causing rays. And really, what could be more stupid than lying in a box getting aged and burnt? (Hint: Not much.)

For the  sake of your own intelligence, (and, well, life) if you go to, or know anyone that goes to, a solarium, please stop. They are an incredibly dangerous device and as our government are too slack to correctly regulate them, (why they still exist at all baffles me and don't get me started on that mess of a TV show, Sunset Tan) I'm gonna take over the Serious Reins and plead that you buy a nice bottle of Garnier self-tanner instead of frying your skin in a box. Please, no more cancer boxes, fruits. Please.

But of course it's not just solariums that cause skin cancer, fruits.

A few weeks back, a friend of mine emailed me asking me to post this email, as she discovered a skin cancer on her face at the age of 27. I was going to save her email for summer, but I'm sure I can find another tale to scare you with later on, so here goes:

"Wanted to raise something with you in hope that you might do a little mention on your blog or something? It’s not work-related but rather personal. I found out earlier in the week I have a skin cancer on my face and it’s really brought to light the need to be regularly checking your skin for any new marks. Our Aussie culture is such that we obviously are a little more prone to sun damage and skin cancers, so I wanted to be sure that all of those lovely ladies out there don’t dismiss the seriousness of getting regularly checked.

I knew skin damage would be an issue for me but never thought I would be so young. Treatment these days is pretty painless but the longer you leave the spots the more sever the cancer becomes. We gots to nail those buggers early on!"

She's dead right, of course. We gotta get more aware, fruits. Skin cancer can hit us in our 20s. It's ain't just a symptom of people who lived in the oil-and-foil era. It can bite any of  us on the ass in this outdoorsy country with its nasty, strong sun.

It's easy to protect yourself: Wear that broad spectrum 30 plus on your face and hands (and body in summer) each day, (after your face cream; under your makeup) even if you're only going to be in the sun for 20 minutes while you walk outside to buy your tuna sanga.

Sorry to run around with my lecture pantaloons on fruits, but making sure my readers are sun aware is an enormous part of my job, (and not just because it is the NUMBER ONE cause of premature ageing) and my personal life, too.

And after reading the stories of these young fruits, it's kind of worth it to get your skin-checked and wear sunblock, you know?

As for the solariums, well, I think you know my stance on them.

Comments

[Naomi]

I went to a funeral last year, my first funeral actually, for someone who died from skin cancer.

He was only 18.

I really hope Clare's message and the overwhelming facts make sunbaking & solariums as unpopular as warts or underarm hair.

[lucy]

this stuff just scares me!!!!

[Charlotte]

I think it's great that you posted this. I just wanted to say, if you have a mole or beauty spot on your face, make sure to always put sunscreen on it and get it checked regularly. My grandmother had a mole on her face all her life and eventually had to have it removed as it became cancerous. Thankfully she was OK but it left a scar and she could have avoided the whole ordeal by getting it checked more regularly. I have one in the same spot and I always sunscreen it and trhe rest of my face up when i go outside.

[Jamie]

I'd rather look like an Oompa Loompa than be dead

[sara]

It kinda makes the urban legend about the bride who visited ten different cancer box salons in a day before her wedding and cooked herself to death a little more believable. As a beauty therapist I have never liked them, you are recommending people to take care of the biggest organ in the body on one hand and on the other you are asking them to cook themselves.I will never condone the use of solariums and always advise clients that it is really dangerous.

[jess]

at first, after discussing your friend, and going "she's dead right, of course" i omitted the "right" and thought you said she had died. At which point i almost had a panic attack. I'm 23, have never gone tanning, and have to have a mole on my face checked for cancer next week.

I work in cosmetics and it's so disturbing to see young girls, in their teens, looking ORANGE. They really have no idea what they are doing to themselves.

[Mel]

Obviously I'm not Fruity, but to the person asking whether you have to wear sunscreen just in Summer or all year round - the answer is definitely the latter! The sun doesn't stop shining just because it's winter, and those nasty UV rays are even about on cloudy days too. Better to be safe than sorry!

[Mel]

Great post Fruity!

I hope those reading this who still haven't realised the dangers of tanning heed the grave warning that skin cancer is serious!

[Bec]

people don't realise just how many people it can affect.
my boyfriend had a skin cancer scare at the start of the year and I freaked out. we're still waiting for the all clear ... and he's only just 16.

good job on putting the message out there!

[Helen]

i forgot to post the link - if you want to try the MagicTan VersaSpa booth, go to www.magictan.com.au and follow the links to find your nearest salon.

xxx helen

[Helen]

I completely agree - it's such a waste to put your skin and health under such harm when there are much safer alternatives.

Last night i had a spray tan in a VersaSpa booth. It's completely automatic and i didn't have to strip in front of a stranger!You get a prep spray, tan with the MagicTan solution and then a moisturiser... so easy, simple and healthy. I highly recommend it!
happy and safe fake tanning
xxx helen

[Britt]

Such a shame that a woman with beautiful asian skin would want to tan her skin in the first place. Asians have such beautiful creamy skin, it's a thing of beauty whereas tanned skin is actually just burnt and damaged skin, think of what happens to chicken skin once it has been roasted - you get the picture, not pretty.

[Paula]

hey fruity
i totally agree
poor clare and anyone else who has suffered cos of solariums
i have a question: do u have to put sunscreen on my face just in summer or all the seasons?
plzzzzz respond its important
xoxo

[Charlotte]

thanks so much for this post Fruity. The death of Clare is so sad, and it made me realise that no matter how pale I think i am (i complain about this on a daily basis i would say!) a tan is never worth it. Luckily I have never gone to a solarium and am fairly sun-smart but had I not heard Clare's story recently, I probably would have thought going to a solarium even just once was alright. Not anymore!

[Christine]

I'm 18 at the moment and not too long ago, I always wanted to have tanned skin. If I ever go to the beach, I'd lie in the sun. Somehow, my perception of beauty changed from sun-tanned (and freckled) skin to one that is flawless and not exposed to sun too often (although I do love surfing!). I think the reason behind the change is because of my mum. She had large dark spots on her face because of exposure to the sun and sunspots on her arm. I rather not have those when I'm older!

Fake tan is the way to go fruits.

Fruity, can you tell me why my fake tan seems to disappear once I take a dip in the sea though?

[toongen..]

omg i totalyl agree bout solariums.. i neva been to one and i neva will.. im thinkin bout startin to fake tan(outta a can) too so no harmful rays for me!!
xoxo.. toongen..

[zangela]

recently, ive been getting really excited about summer and getting myself a real tan despite the fact that i know the dangers of the sun. reading clare's story was heartbreaking but really bloody opened my eyes and made me snap out of my stupidity. FAKE TAN ALL THE WAY PEOPLE!!!

[megan]

It can happen to anyone, my mother got a melanoma in her late 30’s.
I remember – she was in hospital and had basically her entire tri-cep removed….
To this day she goes for 3 monthly check-ups to ensure it won’t come back….

I don't tan or fake tan even, always wear sun cream, wear collared shirts and spf lip balms....

[Claire]

Hey Fruity!

Very very relevant... I live in qld (skin cancer capital of the world) and three of my family members have contracted skin cancer..

My mum had a large melanoma on the sole of her foot ! ! ! yes her foot....

I wear sunscreen based moistureisers all the time..

which brings me to a quetion.. Fruity - should a i use a moisturiser at night that doesnt have spf..? does it clog your poors... or is it fine to use the same moisturiser for day and night...

thanks, keep up the good work
xxx

[KJ]

This story really scared me, I turn 30 soon and am about to give birth to my first child in a matter of days. In my very early 20s I was indeed a GODDAMN FOOL. I used cancer boxes on an almost weekly basis for quite a while. Even up until 3 years ago I was still going for the odd visit for "special events" and just when I felt a bit too pale.

When I think that I may have put myself at such major risk, all in the interests of vanity, I am deeply ashamed and only hope for the sake of my unborn child that I am around for them.

Good on you Fruity, a tan is just NEVER worth it.

[MissK]

It's a bit like smoking,some people will never listen despite all the facts.

[Elisa]

Fruity i know ur supposed to be funny all the time but i really liked your msg today. Its a very serious thing - my aunty has skin cancer and shes only 33. I wouldnt wish it on anyone.
El xxx

[Petrice]

Hear, hear. Truly a sad story. Hope everyone takes heed from Clare's fate.