10/12/2026
Beauty trends come and go, but our love of being tan seems to keep coming back.
For my generation, it was the early 2000s and the Jersey Shore tanning era. Now I’m watching another generation embrace some of those same habits.
I can laugh at some of the ridiculous things we did back then, but it’s hard watching those patterns repeat, knowing what I know now.
And I get it. I was convinced I looked better with a tan. Even when a doctor warned me, I never believed the consequences would happen to me.
That’s hard to admit, knowing what came next. I’ve cried before dermatology appointments, terrified of what they might find. And that fear hasn’t gone away.
There’s been shame, too. About the choices I made, the warnings I ignored, and the scars I tried to hide. For a long time, I felt alone in it.
But keeping those feelings to myself doesn’t help anyone, including me.
My story involves years of tanning, but skin cancer can happen even if you’ve never used a tanning bed or spent hours lying in the sun. Whatever your experience, you deserve compassion, not shame.
And I don’t want the takeaway from any of this to be that we should be afraid of the sun. I’ve always loved being outside. Sunshine, fresh air, and time with people we love matter to our well-being. The sun is essential to life, and we can enjoy its benefits while still protecting our skin.
Working in aesthetics, I worry about the misconception that you can tan when you’re young and get a laser later to undo it all. Treatments can improve visible sun damage, and some can treat precancerous changes. But looking better doesn’t mean the risks from past UV exposure have disappeared.
My experience has shaped how I approach skin health, the treatments I recommend, the conversations I have with my patients, and how deeply I care about helping people feel comfortable in their skin.
If sharing this makes one person rethink tanning, wear SPF, or schedule a skin check, it’s worth being vulnerable.
Give yourself some grace. Wear your SPF, reapply, seek shade, and get your skin checked. 🤍
If any part of my story resonates, I’d love to hear from you!
