I was recently seeing a nurse practitioner for care and as part of her Q & A, she asked me if I regularly wear sunscreen or visit tanning beds.  I was startled at her question.  I’d never been asked about my tanning history while wearing a paper dress – but I’m glad she asked.

Growing up on a farm in the 80′s and 90′s, I was outdoors a lot.  As I got into my teen years, I became an avid fan of tanning and in my junior year of high school, started regularly using a tanning bed – which continued up until about two years ago.  I admit.  I am a sun worshiper extraordinaire and I have the wrinkles and $50 a bottle magic skin potions to prove it.

I also personally know three people who have suffered from aggressive, invasive and difficult-to-treat malignant melanoma and I have to say, I am concerned about me…

“Women under 40 are hit hardest by the escalating incidence of melanoma, according to a Mayo Clinic study published in the April issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, out today.

Researchers examined records from a decades-long database of all patient care in Olmsted County, Minn., and looked for first-time diagnoses of melanoma in patients 18-39 from 1970 to 2009. Melanoma cases increased eightfold among women in that time and fourfold for men, the authors say.”

via Melanoma cases rising; young women at greatest risk – USATODAY.com.

So I will be making an appointment with my dermatologist this week to have all my moles looked at.  And am going to start considering being more faithful about using sunscreen.  I promise.  I just hope it’s not too little to late.

Efforts are now underway to restrict tanning bed use to only those over the age of 18.  What do you think?  Something to worry about or no big deal?