However, after six years of regular tanning bed visits, in 2024, a small red spot appeared on Beth’s face, which she thought was a sign of eczema. In fact, she developed basal cell carcinoma – the most common type of skin cancer, diagnosed in 75,000 people annually in the United Kingdom. It usually appears as a light pink or red nodule on the skin, according to Metro.
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Due to the diagnosis and treatment – and the six-month wait to see a doctor – a “hole” remained on her face. “When I was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, I felt completely confused and at the same time very foolish,” Beth says. “I thought: ‘Did I cause this to myself?’ My mother never used sunscreen – her generation constantly sunbathed. I also hardly used it because I was used to it since childhood. Now it scares me, but back then it was just normal.”
It all started when Beth noticed a red spot on the side of her head – it began to flake and scab over. “Basically, it was a very small red spot that didn’t really stand out,” she says. “I thought it was eczema or something similar – I’m not exactly sure.” She had eczema as a child, so Beth thought it was the same. “Over time, the spot grew, became scabbed, flaked a little, and covered with a crust, but mostly it was flat.”
Later, Beth could no longer hide the area with makeup. “It was just there, and I didn’t always notice it, but when I put on makeup – and I usually don’t use cream foundation – I would see it,” she says. “Probably a larger than usual scab formed there or it started to bleed; then I thought: ‘something is wrong here’ or ‘why isn’t this cream helping?’ and even if it helps – I should still go to the doctor and get the right treatment.”
Worried, she talked to her boyfriend’s mother – a family doctor – and learned that it could be basal cell carcinoma – the most common type of skin cancer. “If it weren’t for her, I might never have gone to the doctors,” she says.
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Beth booked an appointment and after tests was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma. “I was very shocked – I didn’t realize the consequences of not using protective sunscreen and visiting tanning beds,” Beth admits. After hearing her diagnosis, Beth’s mother also decided to get checked; she was also diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma. Beth had to wait six months for the appointment to have the tumor removed; she was very afraid the lesion would grow during the waiting period, but finally, on May 17, she underwent the tumor removal procedure.
She decided to leave the wound open rather than have a skin graft surgery. “I had no idea how complicated the healing process would be,” Beth says. “At work, I said I would be back the next day because I thought it would only take a couple of stitches, but I left with a hole in my face.” Beth took a month off to recover and visited the hospital weekly for wound dressing changes. Now her skin is fully healed but remains sensitive. After learning her diagnosis, Beth no longer visits tanning beds – now she tries to stay in the shade and uses SPF 50 sunscreen.
“At heart, I’m a sun lover, but I take care of my skin,” she says. “Now I use sunscreen every day – I can’t imagine going outside without putting it on my face. Being outside and getting vitamin D is very important, but you need to protect your skin from burning. Stay in the shade, use sunscreen, and wear a hat.” Beth thinks some girls don’t understand that you can still tan while using sunscreen and wants to warn others not to make the same mistake she did.
“I was very naive – I thought this would never happen to me,” she admits. “Now I really regret going to tanning beds. On social media, tanned skin is considered fashionable and attractive, but in reality, it’s quite sad because you are damaging your skin. I just want to help other girls and draw attention to the fact that this problem happens more often than people think and can affect anyone.”
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