23 is a young age for a lot of things.  It is a young age to be a mother, to be on your own, to lose a friend, or to have cancer.  Yet, all of these things and more happen to young people every day.

It was a cold day in November when I got the phone call from the dermatologist telling me my results were back and I needed to come into the office the same day.  As I put down the phone, I looked at my boyfriend and nervously laughed and said, “Well that can’t be good.”  Since I am a full time student, I had to go to class before I could even think about heading to a doctor.  I sat through the hour and fifteen minute class thinking that maybe I was being silly and everything was going to be fine.  Surely a girl who is 23 years old, outgoing, determined, and full of life could not have cancer.  It had to be something else.

The drive to the office took too long and I called my mom on the way to deter some thoughts.  She immediately went into full panic mode and I couldn’t understand why.  By the time I arrived at the doctor, she had called five times to find out what was wrong but they wouldn’t tell her because I am an adult.  I sat alone in the room and waited for the nurse practitioner.  She was the only that would see me that day because the doctor was too busy.  She sat down and said, “Katie, you have level four Melanoma and the next step is for you to go see a surgeon in St. Louis to have the tumor removed.”

It’s hard to explain what I was feeling at the moment I was processing everything she was saying.  I don’t really know if I was feeling anything but disbelief.  I’m not sure that I was even processing it.  I just shook my head like I was some kind of bobble head so she knew I was still listening.  The strangest thing, after looking back on it all, is the feeling that I just wanted to please her or that I couldn’t cry because I needed to be strong.  I asked her different questions about what the biopsy meant and she couldn’t tell me.  At this point the hardest thing was that she didn’t know the details or the main question everyone wanted to know:

Was I going to die?

As I waited for my mom in the room, I went numb.  I thought back to all the years I laid in tanning beds and knew it was bad but didn’t trust my instincts.  Most fake-bakers out there will know what feeling I’m talking about; that gnawing feeling that this is bad for you.  This is bad for you like any other bad habit, but you’re young and healthy and nothing could ever hurt you.  You’ve seen the little sign on the side of the tanning bed but you still step in with the certainty that those signs are just for legalities and don’t pertain to you.

I started to cry and was slightly embarrassed.  I was embarrassed because I didn’t even know what I was crying for.  I didn’t even know if this was serious or not.  I was just like any other person, and didn’t really know what Melanoma was or how deadly it can be.  But I had the “Big C” and so I cried.  I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be feeling.  I knew they had probably diagnosed a lot of people who had lived full lives with Melanoma, but I was different.  How is a 23 year old who just found she has cancer supposed to act?

Two weeks later, I had MOHS surgery to have the tumor removed and I had some lymph nodes removed as well.  When I woke up from the surgery, I was in a lot of pain and I needed a month’s worth of physical therapy to get my arm back to working right.  The next time I saw the surgeon, he was unsure whether they had found more cancer further up my arm.  It was all very confusing and I thought I would have to go on chemotherapy.  This is when it all became too real.  I started to wonder if I was going to be a statistic for Melanoma deaths rather than for Melanoma survivors.

After weeks of research, I found a Melanoma clinic in the area that examined my slides and they didn’t believe I still had Melanoma.  I wonder everyday who it is I should be listening to and how I can save myself.  After having all different kinds of scans, it is still unclear if I still have cancer and all I can really do is to check my skin and lymph nodes every three months with a specialist.  Since I am on a full-ride scholarship and can’t risk losing it by missing classes, I have left chemo out of the equation until someone can give me a definite answer.  Some people may think this is a risky choice but this has been a big financial burden for me, so the last thing I need to do is lose my scholarship and make it worse.

Melanoma is a very sneaky cancer because, like my mole, it does not always look like the typical Melanoma.  The only reason I was concerned about it was because it itched.  Melanoma diagnosis increase by 3.1 percent each year and it is being found more and more in young Caucasian females.  Melanoma is the most common form of skin cancer in young adults 25-29 years old, and the second most common form of cancer in adolescents and young adults 15-29 years old. The scariest facts on Melanoma are that 75 percent of skin cancer deaths are related to Melanoma and someone dies from Melanoma every 61 minutes.  This is obviously something that needs to be taken seriously because young adults are being diagnosed at an increasingly alarming rate.  Still, no one my age understands or believe that it could happen to them.  Young adults never believe they are invincible.  I am here to tell you, you are not. It can happen to you and it is completely preventable.

At this point, if you are a tanner, it is time to quit. Bronze skin is not worth it. Believe me, it took me a long time to get used to being pale, but now I love my natural, healthy color.

Right now, I’m just trying to live my life as normally as possible. I’m trying not to think about my disease or what it might mean for me down the road. I want to go to school and when summer comes, I want to spend it at the beach.  I don’t know which one but I am just going to hop in the car and start driving towards the coast.  After I get there and I lay out my towel, I’m going to slather on the sunscreen, open up a cold-one,  and be young again.

[A very special thanks to reader Kathleen for sharing her story with us. She and her friends are working tirelessly to fight against tanning beds and warn college students of the dangers associated with them. Honor her struggle and protect yourself.]

I live for the summer.  In the spring, I count down the days until my last final and I miss it terribly during the fall.  I love the way the sun‘s rays touch my skin, I love reading novels lazily on the beach, my morning outdoor runs, and enjoying picnics and BBQs.  I love the skin-exposing, brightly colored fashions I get to wear.  I want nothing more than to be carefree during my favorite season, but unhappily I cannot be. There are two frightening words that come to mind whenever I’m wanting to bask in the sun and they are a constant reminder to apply sunscreen and limit my beloved time in the sun: skin cancer.

With that in mind it certainly is important to apply sunscreen, avoid tanning beds, and limit hours in the sunlight. But obvious these steps are not all that we can do to protect oneself from the sun’s damaging rays. It turns out that the foods we eat can have a protective effect!

The deal is this (and I am going to get a bit scientific here, so bare with me):  Cancer can only flourish in the body when cells that undergo free radical damage and the subsequent DNA damage (which happens when we spend too much time in the sun!) are unable to be repaired by the cell’s DNA monitoring and repair tools. Natural, plant based foods are rich in antioxidants and other cool, skin protecting chemicals, substances that are needed for these repair mechanisms to function most optimally.  Vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and seeds and other “bright colored” foods are loaded with these protective substances. If one’s diet is low in vegetables and fruits, the body will not be supplied with enough nutrients for its cells to defend itself from oxidative damaged caused by UV radiation.  Studies have pointed to green vegetables especially, as skin cancer (and most cancers for that matter) fighting foods.

The concept of consuming a high-nutrient, plant based diet has been supported in an enlightening study conducted in Australia. Researches analyzed the diet, skin color, and sunlight exposure of 1,360 adults, aged 25-75, who participated in a community-based skin cancer study from 1992-2002. Two main eating patterns were identified: a meat and fat pattern and a vegetable and fruit pattern. Interestingly, the meat and fat pattern diet was positively associated with development of skin cancer, and even more strongly associated in participants with a skin cancer history. Increased consumption of the vegetable and fruit dietary pattern reduced skin cancer occurrence by 54%, with the protective effect mostly attributed to the consumption of green, leafy vegetables. In conclusion, the researchers deemed that a dietary pattern characterized by high meat and fat intakes increases skin cancer odds, while a dietary pattern characterized by higher consumption of green vegetables decreases it.

If you are thinking, “I don’t eat many fruits and veggies, or man oh man, I totally fit into the “meat and fat” group,” don’t sweat it.  Summer is the perfect time to try including more fruits and veggies in your diet. Cook a vegetable shish kabob or corn on the cob on the grill at your next BBQ, try a tossed salad for lunch or pack some fresh berries or watermelon with you on a picnic or at the beach.  Being away from icky dining hall foods and stressful school assignments that leave you with little time to prepare your own meals leaves you with more freedom to explore other eating options.

Added bonus? Eating more bright colored foods will help you stay slim and look great in a bikini!

I am pale.  White, pasty, corpse-like, albino, pallid- that’s me.  It wasn’t always me, mind you.  See, once upon a time I sought solitude and relaxation in the warm bluish-white glow of the tanning bed.  Those of you who tan, you know what I’m talking about.  You get out of class completely drained (because the Sudoku was really tough today) and head to your car.  Maybe it’s raining, maybe it’s not.  Maybe it’s the middle of December, or maybe Spring Break is a week away.  It doesn’t matter.  The light at the end of your tunnel is florescent and comes with the scent of coconut oil.

I’ve been there.  Chasing happiness through monthly memberships and bonus lotion deals, fighting hangovers as you listen to the best of the 80s, 90s, and today, as you fake-bake your way to sun kissed bliss. You know tanning is bad for you (the warnings are everywhere), but you don’t care. You don’t do it that much. You won’t get cancer. And you look so much better tan!

So you keep on keepin’ on.

Well, what if I showed you what tanning does to those precious looks to hold so dearly? Would that change your mind?  Looks like it.

A new study out of East Tennessee State University found that women (and men – I’m lookin’ at you, Jersey Shore cast) are more apt to listen to warnings that tanning will deteriorate their looks than the boring ol’ cancer threats.  While both statements are true – you’re basically asking for skin cancer when you tan, and yeah, those intense, concentrated rays cause wrinkles, sunspots, and leathery handbag hands – the latter is taken far more seriously by habitual tanners. So much so that those who had seen their futures (which happen to look eerily similar to Donatella Versace and George Hamilton) changed their tanning practices dramatically.

Makes sense, I guess. Wrinkles are far scarier than cancer, right? [Note: that was sarcasm]

This is a monumental discovery and could prevent millions of people from the harmful effects of tanning. Even more, just knowing the importance people place on their looks, these findings could save people from other less-than-healthy habits. Unprotected sex? Stop teaching abstinence and just show those people what a pregnant belly looks like. And binge drinking? Scary stats and facts won’t work; just show them what they look like when they’re tearing up the dance floor, 3 sheets to the wind.

Seriously, this study can change the world.

Got something awesome everyone needs to know about? A really singer? A wicked new book? A product, like Yes To Carrots,  that truly changed your life? Email your “The Know” ideas to Jill@collegecandy.com or tweet me and I’ll pass them along to everyone right here, every week. Make your kindergarten teacher proud and share!

We all have those friends who seem to have a perfect something.

Perfect skin… and then they complain about their one teeny tiny pimple as they stare at my “wow, how unfortunate; her skin looks like it belongs in 7th grade” face.
Perfect hair…every strand is always in place, it never gets greasy or frizzy, it never gets Jew-fro-y in the humidity.
Perfect metabolism…you know those biatches who you wish you could hate as they chow down on their 4th piece of pizza in their size 27 jeans but you can’t hate them because they are so great?

Well, for years, my friend Jess has had the perfect tan; always radiant, glowing, never orange, never streaky, never Simon Cowell looking (I mean really, the dude should just wear a sign that reads “Some people choose alcohol, but self tanner is my drug of choice”).

Anyway, I never thought to ask dear ‘ol Jess what her tan-perfect secret was – I figured it was just one of those things that she would always have down perfectly and I would admire her glow whilst accepting the fact that I am and will always be Pasty McPasterson pals with Snow White. (What up, home girl?)

But then tonight the secret was revealed, and much like those exclusive behind the scenes of your favorite reality show shows, I was fascinated, intrigued and wanted to know more. At last, the tan curtain had been lifted.

Turns out, Jess uses TanTowels. Individual towelettes (much like the ones you get at restaurants where they think you are going to eat like a hot mess) to wipe on your face and body. They are packaged for individual use and, as Jess points out, they are a blessing from the traveling gods since you can throw these bad boys in your carry-on and not worry about getting strip searched by the female guard with the mustache.

She claims they don’t streak, don’t turn you orange and are the secret to her perfect weekend glow sans the risk of sun damage, and, the more importantly, sans the risk of looking like Snooki. And with the temperature rising and the short shorts coming out of hiding, these handy little slices of sunless heaven are definitely something worth Knowing about.

Moles helped make celebs like Marilyn Monroe and Cindy Crawford famous.  Their moles were sexy little perfectly-shaped beauty marks that everyone wanted to have.  And did by picking up the press-on variety at the neighborhood beauty supply store.

Unfortunately, though, a mole isn’t just another beauty accessory; it can also be the sign of skin cancer.

One of my best friends has been having trouble with her moles for years, constantly getting them removed. After hearing about her latest round of whack-a-mole, I began to panic; I had never even thought to have my moles looked at! What if they were dangerous? What if I only had days left to live?!

Shaking, I dialed my dermatologist and made an appointment to get everything checked out.  And good thing I did! I thought I only had a couple of moles but it turns out I was wrong.  Unbeknownst to me, moles aren’t only the raised brown marks on your skin – they can also look just like freckles.

In fact, moles can be raised, flat, large, small, dark, or light, and you may not even know that you have some.  And all of them – even those moles that have never seen the sun (yes, like that one on your booty) – can be cancerous, so it’s important to get them checked out  by a professional.  My dermatologist recommended that everyone performs a monthly mole self-check. This will not only allow you to discover any new moles that may be popping up, but to follow the ones you already have. When moles start changing in any way, it could be a sign of a problem.

Here’s what to look for when you do your check, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. If you discover any of the following you should give your Derm a call and have him or her take a look.

The ABCDE’s of Moles:

A: Asymmetry – When the mole is not a consistent shape; when one half of the mole is significantly different from the other half.

B: Border - When the edges of the mole are ragged, blurred, or irregular.

C: Color – If the mole is different colors, or if it contains tones of tan, brown, black, red, white or blue.

D: Diameter – When the diameter of the mole is larger than 6mm (about the size of a pencil eraser).

E: Evolving – If the mole experiences any change over time it could be the sign of a problem.  This is why it’s important to keep an eye on the moles often so you will be able to notice differences over time.

Simple use of sunscreen can help prevent a mole from becoming cancerous. If a mole is found to be suspicious, a dermatologist will likely perform a biopsy to test if the mole is actually cancerous or if it is benign (safe).  The doctor will then remove the mole if it is found to be cancerous.

It’s better to be safe than sorry with moles, so protect them, check them, and have a professional do the same.

Back in the day when Speedo one-pieces were cool, I had no interest in tanning. Although I fought through “sunscreen smear down” sessions with my mom, my skin was still, for the most part, shielded from the sun all summer long. It wasn’t until my friends started wearing bikinis and lots of Hawaiian tropic, that my Irish complexion got it’s first taste of sunburn. I quickly realized that getting the perfect tan wasn’t really in the cards for me…well unless I wanted to look like a leather handbag years later.

It’s scary how many times my skin has peeled, even blistered. I’ve accumulated many freckles, and one of them could easily be cancerous. At least that’s what I hear. Freckles appearing after a sunburn have been associated with an increased risk of melanoma skin cancer – the fatal kind. And even worse, it’s been estimated that nearly half of all Americans who live to age 65 will develop skin cancer at least once, according to MedicineNet.com.

Clearly we are all guilty of neglecting our skin for vanity’s sake. I mean, who doesn’t enjoy that bronzed glow? But ten, fifteen years from now, we’ll be kicking ourselves when the wrinkles, blotchy sun spots or melanoma develop.

So what can we do now to prevent further sun damage?

1. Always wear sunscreen, SPF 15 or higher, and reapply every 2 hours. Those of us who are fair-skinned, freckled, red-headed and blue-eyed really need to pay attention to this one since we are at more risk that our dark-skinned counterparts.
2. No more tanning beds. You know why!
3. Examine yourself regularly for abnormal skin growths or changes in existing moles and freckles. Self-examination can ensure an early detection of skin cancer.
4. Visit your dermatologist. It is recommended that everyone get a clinical skin exam annually, especially if you spot a new lump or mole.

I hate being a Debbie-downer before summer, but we need save our skin. So wear a higher SPF, go the self-tanning route — anything to keep that precious epidermis young and healthy.

For more information on skin cancer symptoms, please visit www.skincancer.org.

It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. And in the game of Bad Habits, you will always come out a loser. As I laid in a tanning bed, I thought about how this bad habit was going to affect me in the long run. Even though I love the immediate benefits of this vice (golden, sun-kissed skin!), I can’t help but worry about my future as a leather-skinned freak. Is the bronze skin of today worth the skin cancer of tomorrow? Let’s examine the dangerous games we play and weigh whether the consequences are worth the benefits:

Tanning

Why We Do It: I am addicted to the healthy glow I get from taking a 20 minute nap in my favorite tanning bed! I feel more relaxed, have less acne, and generally feel less self-conscious. When I’m feeling confident, I can stand up straighter, smile bigger, and show off my legs without feeling embarrassed. I feel like confidence enhances my life and I don’t want to go through my heyday without it.

Why We Shouldn’t: The reality is that, while I may feel cool and confident in my 20′s, I may be hitting up the dermatologist through my 30′s and beyond. If you expose yourself to tanning beds before age 35, your risk of developing melanoma increases 75%! Not only will I be spending my health insurance on removing cancerous or suspicious growths, I’ll be looking in a mirror at wrinkles and sagging skin. So, is the confident glow I see today going to be worth the leathery cancer-face in my future?

Drinking

Why We Do It: I may be of the non-drinking persuasion, but that doesn’t mean I don’t see why others choose to do it. Alcohol loosens you up in social situations and relaxes you after a stressful week of classes. A rousing game of quarters can bring a group of people together and help you forget about that exam you may have bombed.

Why We Shouldn’t: Unfortunately, not too many college students know when to stop before getting out of control. Did you know that 31% of college students meet the criteria for a diagnosis of alcohol abuse? Each year, 1,700 students die from alcohol related causes and over 719,000 will suffer from consequences such as injury, assault, rape and unprotected sex. Drinking one too many is not only terrible for your health and safety, but what about those embarrassing pictures of you on Facebook that Jerkface refuses to take down?! When you decide to drink at a party, you may spend 3 hours enjoying yourself, but think ahead to what the consequences might be.

Smoking

Why We Do It: Nicotine creates that feel-good sensation, calming nerves in the way that adrenaline would during a terrifying public speech. After a long day of stressing out, girls reach for the cigs to chill and shake the anxiety. Some have even fallen for the myth that smoking will help you lose weight. Smoking is also considered a fun social activity that brings people together as they stand outside the smoke-free bar recounting what so-and-so just did with that blow up doll and a bottle of chocolate syrup.

Why We Shouldn’t: You may feel like that first puff is stripping away all your worries, but that’s just the endorphins talking. After that nicotine leaves your system an hour later, your problems will still be there except now you’ll have another one: poor health. And don’t think that smoking is a great alternative to getting a bod like Giselle! Once that nicotine raises your heart rate, blood pressure and labors your breathing, you won’t last two minutes on the treadmill. In fact, smoking will eventually increase your levels of bad cholesterol, damaging your arteries just like that Double-Double Burger you’ve been craving since Friday. Not to mention cancer, the stench, the expense and addiction!

Casual Sex

Why We Do It: Women have fought for centuries against the double standard and today is the first era that sexual freedom and expression has finally reached near equality. If we meet a hot guy, we can hook up and never have to call him back (especially if dude has some rank breath and a collection of anime porn mags). Some girls may sleep with a guy because they are horny, bored, lonely, drunk, like him, or want attention. A swift roll in the hay can make a girl feel empowered and desired.

Why We Shouldn’t: Aside from any moral repercussions, casual sex can reek havoc on your body and state of mind! One in four college women have an STD, but only 10% of them know it. Look around your classroom one day…several girls sitting around you will be afflicted with one of these diseases and not even know it! Makes you want to remind all your girlfriends about carrying condoms, doesn’t it? Not only can hooking up increase your chances of being a regular at the gynecologist, but it can depress you too! Having a heat-of-the-moment night may seem like a blast, but what happens if you really like the guy and he doesn’t call? Biologically, women are hardwired with oxytocin to create a bond after intercourse. If this bond is broken, it can make it harder for us to trust guys and still feel good about ourselves.

So many choices, so much to think about.

Are you able to weigh the benefits of your habit with its consequences? Have you found a successful method of changing your ways? Bottom line, do you think indulging in vices today is worth harming your future?

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention an estimated 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the US during 2008; about 1,990 new cases are expected in men.

Aside from skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the U.S., and is the second most common cause of death among white, black, Asian, and American Indian women. It is the leading cause of death from cancer in Hispanic women.

While most college women don’t need to worry about developing breast cancer at such a young age (we won’t face the invasion of mammograms until our 40s), there’s still plenty we can and should do to protect ourselves. A  major study released in 2006 indicated that the number of new cases of breast cancer dropped significantly in the reporting period of 2002 to 2003. After 20 years of increases, this is incredibly exciting news and most likely directly correlates to new methods of early detection and prevention.

Over the next few days, CollegeCandy will offer tips, background information and resources to spread the message about this vicious disease. Breast cancer is a scary animal. Even if you don’t have the disease (or know anyone who does), it’s normal to have questions about diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Most college women don’t even know where to begin. CollegeCandy is here to help.

Check back tomorrow for the first blog in our series!

Finally, halfway through high school, I made peace with being pale and embraced the art of self tanning. Since then I have (tried to) become religious about slathering on sun protection every. single. day. It is a chore sometimes, but when I want to slack on the SPF, I just think of this gadget. Here’s how to work SPF into your lifestyle easily.

SPF Moisturizer: For every day exposure, protection while going to and from work or school, or spending minimal time outdoors. Daily use of a low SPF sunscreen (like 15) can reduce sun damage even more than occasional use of a super high SPF. Sub this for your regular morning face lotion. Aim for at least 30. Most people don’t use the right amount of sun protection (about a teaspoon for your face)–they usually use only half, so double the level of SPF you desire. If you think you’ll miss that sun kissed glow you achieve on your cheeks and nose, try Neutrogena Summer Glow Daily moisturizer. You’ll still get a healthy glow…emphasis on healthy.

Sun Screen and Sun Block: There is a difference! A quick tutorial:

Sun screen: By far the most popular sun protection products, they absorb UV rays before your skin can. They come in the most variety of forms, and still allow for some gain of color (but tan at your own risk! Even the slightest change in your skin shade indicates sun damage).

Sun block: Offers a stronger level of protection by reflecting UV rays. Usually somewhat thicker in consistency, but technology has improved that factor. (Remember that sticky, thick coating that Mom used to rub on and acted as a sand magnet? Yea, it’s improved since then.)

Overall, the two act in much the same way and are ideal for any serious outdoor activity.

Remember, application is even more important than the level of SPF you need. You should use a shot glass sized amount (great excuse to have one handy at your next pool party!), at least on your body. Basically, put it anywhere your skin might be exposed and apply enough so that a film is visible before it dries. Apply it before you hit the great outdoors, because SPF takes 20-30 minutes to start working. I like to do mine before I get dressed or put on my bikini, therefore allowing ample time and preventing it from ruining my bathing suit.

Another important thing to remember about sun protection is that it is temperature, time and chemically sensitive. A good rule of thumb is to treat your sunscreen like you would your condoms! Seriously though, avoid high temp storage (in the car, a no no), always check the expiration date, and remember that certain medications (like antibiotics) interact negatively with SPF.

Be aware that while all blocks and screens block UVB rays (the ones that fry you), they don’t all block UVA rays (aging rays). Check the label to see if it specifically protects against both types of damage. Two brands that protect against both are Neutrogena–which uses Helioplex technology to battle aging and cancer, and L’Oreal (or any of their products, including Kiehl’s and Lancome):they use the chemical screen Mexoryl.

So ladies, whenever you head outdoors this summer, remember to wear protection! Ok, enough with the condom jokes. But seriously, it will establish a good habit. Come your 50th birthday you will be very grateful for that your skin is in better condition than your brand new leather handbag.

[Photo courtesy of ebaumsworld.com]

Last summer, I thought I was invincible when it came to the sun. My friends can get tan with SPF 4 or 8, so why couldn’t I? On two various occasions, I felt the effects of not listening to the realistic side of my brain in terms of summer sunshine. I spent a week in June in San Antonio, Texas, where it was roughly 95 degrees every day. As this was a more family-oriented – go out to dinner, do family related things – sunbathing took a back seat, until the last dreaded day, when I thought it was appropriate to lay at the pool, for three solid hours, with nothing – and I mean, not a drop of sunscreen – on my body.

After a few hours, I ran to the bathroom, out of the sunlight, and got a load of myself: completely toasted, head to toe (Did I mention I didn’t flip over, so my back side was ghost white and my front side was cherry red?). The plane ride home was torture, even in a tshirt and spandex pants I was in excrutiating pain, had the shakes and was nauscous – not to mention, my body was giving off enough heat that people started calling me a human radiator. I got home and proceeded to cry and lie on the tile in my bathroom, naked, until I passed out covered in Aloe.

The following day, I thought it was appropriate – after being in Texas and gorging for a solid week – to get on my treadmill and go for a run. No sooner did I break the first mile that I looked down at my stomach and noticed the sunburn had swelled into tiny blisters all over my body, which – once they died down – peeled and turned my skin into a lovely purple color, for two solid weeks. Lesson learned: Wear sunscreen at all times.

A few months later, after telling myself I had learned my lesson, flew to my house in South Carolina for a week, where I proceeded to use 15 SPF instead of 45 SPF like my white behind should’ve. I wound up with a heat rash that landed me in the Emergency Walk-In Clinic and, after a shot of cortisone steroids in my rear end, antibiotics and another round of steroids, I landed myself on my couch, watching trashy television, while everyone else got to play in the pool. Lesson learned: Wear the RIGHT type of sunblock for your skin.

Despite the intense pain sunburn brings, there are long-term repercussions for not taking care of your skin in the warm weather, aka skin cancer. So, lather up in the right stuff and enjoy catching those rays in a healthy way, otherwise, you could wind up lying on the bathroom floor like me.