This Photo Will Make You Apply Lots Of Sunscreen

If you weren’t already down with the idea of getting your tan from a bottle, well, that's about to change. 27-year-old Tawny Willoughby shared a graphic photo of her skin cancer on social media to warn people against tanning too much. It’s pretty graphic and terrible to look at, but I appreciate her making this bold move in the name of health. Still, I have to warn you before you scroll — this image is tough to take.

Willoughby told Cosmopolitan that as a teenager, she visited tanning salons four times a week to keep her tan from fading too fast. And as a result of her frequent tanning trips, she was diagnosed with skin cancer at the age of 21.

She now has to visit her dermatologist every 6 to 12 months, and typically has skin cancer removed at each visit. While that sounds ultra painful, at least Willoughby is using her struggles with cancer to do some good. She wants to serve as an example to everyone and encourage people not to make the same mistakes she did.

According to Refinery 29 and the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. So, if you’re one who likes to tan, at least do it carefully and be mindful. Willoughby suggests wearing sunscreen and sticking to spray tans, according to Cosmopolitan. There are plenty of fabulous products out there to help you get a bit of a natural glow without exposing your skin to harmful UV rays.

And after seeing this image, I am so ready for SPF like 1,000 and a very good spray tan.

Image: Tawny Willoughby/Twitter