Skin Cancer Question

462 Posts

Hi, i'm a nursing student and as an assignment I had to do research on skin cancer. Now, maybe I shouldnt be doing this, but this research raised some concerns. I spent last semester abroad in Australia with a layover in Fiji. Now, earlier in the year, I went to southern mexico. I definately got burned and had redness, altho only one time in my life can I remember a burn being very painful. In australia, i did not use sunscreen, but I did not frequent the beach. In Fiji, I only tanned after 4pm (its just too hot!) and when I did, i used 15spf on my body and 30 on my face, and got no burns at all. I am very irish and am white but by no means fair-skinned. Reading all this information about having been burned more than 5 times is awful, and using tanning beds even once can increase your risk significantly, i'm terrified as I also used to use tanning beds, although not as much as most. I was just so clueless, but what I noticed is that I have one asymettrical freckle, and another large one on my back (although upon inspection in the past doctors have said its fine, but watch out for it)

On my neck, area's of my front are a non-skin color, in fact, if I had do describe it, i'd say there are area's that look dirty. That look like I simply havent washed. Now, its not terrible obvious, but its easily seen once I point it out. Skin over these area's is a bit rougher. I plan on seeing a dermatologist but I am freaked out none-the-less, and being as impatient as I am, I needed to ask for advice on here. I swear, everything I learn in nursing I feel I have! I have the symptoms for everything, but this does make me nervous. Lesson learned here...no tanning, and sunblock every day!