Pretty in Pale
A beautiful bronze tan can quickly lead to wrinkles, brown spots and melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.
Cindy Patrick, a local mother of two, spent excessive amounts of time tanning during her college years because she had very fair skin. “I knew that tanning could cause cancer, but I didn’t really care,” Patrick says. “For me, having a tan at that particular moment far outweighed the risk of cancer.”
Four years ago, Patrick’s dermatologist, Shawn Sabin, M.D., found a suspicious mole that turned out to be melanoma. Surgery successfully removed that mole, and Patrick has had 34 moles removed since. Patrick and Sabin began the campaign “Pasty By Choice—Pale Is Beautiful” in 2007 in an effort to put an end to skin cancer. “It has been a true change of lifestyle,” Patrick says. “We want young girls to embrace their natural beauty and to encourage young girls and women to get annual skin cancer screenings.”
Here are three things to think about concerning your skin’s health:
- Use sunscreen and cover up. Before you head outside, cover your body with at least a sunscreen of SPF 30. Whenever she is outside, Patrick wears big hats and long sleeves in order to protect her skin from the sun.
- Trade in the bed for the can. You are 74 percent more likely to develop melanoma if you have spent time in tanning beds. Spray tans and lotions can give your skin a natural, healthy glow without the risk of skin damage.
- Protect your children. It’s never too early to get skin cancer screenings for any new or suspicious moles on your kids; Patrick’s 11-year-old son has already had 2 suspicious moles removed. When in the sun, have your children wear swim shirts and hats to protect their skin.
For more information about Patrick and Sabin’s campaign, visit
Amanda Blue is an intern for KC Parent Magazine. She is a sophomore at the University of Kansas where she is studying journalism.