In 2001, I was diagnosed with skin cancer. All of a sudden, reality set in. It can – and did – happen to me. My world was turned upside down. I was shaken.

I was a seasonal tanner, no more than most. Yet, there I sat, with my face (yes my face) cut open, thinking to myself, "Why me?!" I think I'm a smart woman, considering my medical background in nursing. Still, I didn’t think it could happen to me. Or maybe I just chose not to think about it at all. That changed – fast!

I'll spare you the details, but after many surgeries, I was told to "never tan again". Sounds pretty easy, right? Well, I'll tell you, it's not. The first summer when everyone was wearing little clothing, showing off great tans, I was pale. I felt uncomfortable and ugly. OK, so you're probably thinking I was overreacting and that I'm a little vain. Well, maybe just a little. But I was already approaching "middle age" and, really, don't you think a tan makes you look healthy (how ironic), younger and sexier? So, what to do? Well, I tried the sunless tanners. Need I tell you the results? (Think pumpkin.) I even tried having it applied at a spa. $125 later, I was a shade darker, not tan. Next, off to the famous $30 shower: "aaaggggghhhhhh!!!!" is all I'll say about that.

Just as I was getting really depressed and thinking maybe I'd get a little sun – just some color – it was time for my check-up with a plastic surgeon to whom I will always be grateful. He must have seen the desperation in my eyes when I asked him about the sun. He told me, "Christi, you are a beautiful woman, but you won't be if you keep tanning. Not only will I be cutting your face up again, you'll get old looking and wrinkly. Is that what you want?" And then I actually saw his eyes light up when he said, "You know what? I saw this airbrush tanning at a medical convention in California. I really don’t know much about it except that it's safe, FDA approved and looks good... Check it out."

So I'm thinking, Great! There is hope! ... [ Read More ]