Woman Who Had Skin Cancer Warns of Sunbed Danger

“I just wanted to look good for a party,” Levi-Mariah Verrall told me over coffee, her hand brushing her cheek where surgery once left a faint scar. “Now I think about that sunbed session every time I step outside without a hat.” And here’s the kicker: she’s not alone. The reality girls may want to hear? Skin cancer warning signs catch most people off-guard, especially if they’ve ever thought, “Sunbeds are safer than sitting at the beach.” Spoiler: They’re not.

The good news? This post isn’t here to guilt-trip you. It’s here to give you the truth about melanoma risk, skin cancer symptoms, and real prevention tips—even if you’re already a sunbed survivor. Because this isn’t just about sun safety. It’s about spotting signs early and making sure your story doesn’t end in an operating room. Let’s break it down.

Warning Signs of Skin Cancer

You might’re thinking, “What’s a skin cancer warning, anyway? A mole that’s… wonky?” Close, but not quite. Skin cancer warning signs are less dramatic than movies make them look. For example, Levi’s doctor caught it because she noticed a mole that evolved over three months—a painless, slow creep that looked “a bit like a freckle with an identity crisis.”

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

Shiny bumps. Red, irritated patches. Sores that won’t heal. These are the less “scary” types of skin cancer, but you’d still want to chill a sec if you spot any of them. The worst part? BCC often hides in plain sight. Levi told me, “I thought the scaly graft on my jaw was dry skin. Turned out it was basal cell carcinoma.”

Red Flags for BCC (Source: Skin Cancer Foundation)

Here’s what BCC actually does:

• Fake being a pimple for four weeks or more.
• Pop up on the face, ears, or neck like uninvited party guests.
• Look pearly or clear but turn out to be a lot more serious.
• Create scars that aren’t from accidents—just plain bad sun habits.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

SCC? It’s the pesky cousin hiding in places you’d never expect. Levi’s surgeon mentioned that 1 in 5 people with darker skin tones may first notice SCC as rough, scaly patches on parts that don’t see the sun—like the scalp or under your nails. For lighter skin folks? It’s often a reddish nodule on sun-drenched surfaces like arms or the nose.

Melanoma: The ABCDE Rule

If melanoma was a road sign, it’d be a blinking red traffic light. But recognizing it early can flip the script. Let me explain.

A: Asymmetry (& the Quick Test You Can Do Right Now)

Grab a mirror. Squint at a mole. If you draw a line through the middle and it’s lopsided, hello cancer. Levi’s initial mole? Definitely asymmetrical. She didn’t know to check until her sister (a nurse) asked, “Wait… have you seen that thing?”

According to Mayo Clinic’s findings, even the shape of your mole should raise flags. Use this trick monthly. Pair it with a skincare routine and boom—you’ve just banked extra health points.

Sunbed Danger: The Risk You Might Not Notice

Picture this: You’re laying on a sunbed, feeling like a supermodel. But what you’re really doing? Playing jackpot with the sun’s rays hitting your skin—except you can’t even win. Sunbed danger usually hides behind “safe” marketing myths: “It’ll prep your skin for summer,” “You’ll get vitamin D,” “It’s totally FDA-approved.”

Levi’s Wake-Up Call

Levi’s first warning? A tiny red spot on her cheek. She’d been tanning twice a month for a year. The spot itched a little, but who hasn’t scratched their face after afro-picking? The cancer grew slowly. The good news? BCC is treatable. The bad news? It still meant surgery, bandages, and a long lesson in second-guessing “harmless” habits.

Why Do UV Beds Snag People?

• They’re often sold as safe for indoors. (Spoiler: UV light is UV light.)
• People confuse “indoor tanning” with “avoiding natural sunburns.”
• Your skin might not burn but still absorbs deep UV damage, which ramps up melanoma risk over time.

And here’s the punch: Your skin cancer surgery could’ve been prevented with one honest check in front of the mirror. But more on that in a bit.

Prevent Skin Cancer Without Driving Yourself Crazy

SPF + Hats + Checks aka Your Unsexy But Game-Changing Routine

Prevent skin cancer? That’s not a one-off thing. Levi’s adjusted three key habits—and no, she didn’t quit her job under the sun become an indoor plant person. (Joking about your sunscreen deficiency? Your skin will know who’s boss later.)

Real Isaiah’s Prevention Plan

Micro-habits that work:

Tips	Levi’s Personal Note
Sunscreen daily (SPF 30+)	“I keep a tube in my car. If you see it, you’re more likely to use it.”
Don’t forget your scalp & ears	“Yes, even there. Your sun spots love awkward places.”
Check skin monthly	“I took 100 selfies.” [discussion link to CDC on skin check routines].

Dispelling the “I’m Immune ‘Cause I Don’t Burn” Myth

Here’s a real plot twist: Darker skin tones get hit with skin cancer symptoms in less obvious places like soles, palms, and under nails. Check spots even if you never burn. Because skin cancer warning signs don’t stop for melanin levels.

Post-Dx and Surgery: When Sci-Fi Meets Reality

This is the part where things might get serious. If you ever go, “Is that thing on my face worth checking?”—YES. And here’s why Levi’s skin cancer surgery felt like a reality check, not a horror movie.

Mohs Surgery vs. Standard Scissors Chop

Levi didn’t need chemotherapy because the surgery cut out cancer before it spread. But her surgeon warned her: “If you detect skin cancer warning signs late, you might be looking at radiology, scars, or worse. Early? It’s a 5-minute fix.”

If It’s “Late” – Here’s What to Expect

Melanoma wolfed down survival rates from 99% to 35% if it spreads beyond your skin. But the real kicker? A lot of people panic when they hear “surgery” or “chemo.” Don’t. Stop. Visit your dermatologist. The numbers are scary, but your body is resilient.

Final Skin Cancer Warning: Your Skin Survives Because You Act

Imagine a world where you caught melanoma risk before it slid off your radar. Your skin cancer warning signs got spotted because you knew the ABCDE checklist or noticed that open sore taking forever to heal. Levi’s story could’ve been different if she knew. And maybe yours can be, too.

This isn’t a fear piece. It’s a “what-if” fuelled action plan. So go ahead. Check your skin today. Flag anything weird. Recognize just how useful sunscreen is. And don’t blend your suntanning habits into the background like Levi once did.

If what you read gave you something new to watch for, grab coffee with someone who’s into fake tans. Talk about Skin Cancer Foundation’s images if they don’t believe you—because sometimes, a story is best told with visuals.