This Story Will Definitely Make You Change Your Tanning Habit

Are you a frequent tanner? Do you love to lay on the tanning bed? Do you love to stay under the sun? Do you love to flaunt your skin while enjoying your day on your backyard, poolside or on the beach during summer vacation?

Take time to read this. This might save your life or someone's life.

Recently, a graphic selfie on Facebook became viral. This selfie is not just another teenage dramatic I'm-so-beautiful-why-don't-you-notice-me overload photo. It is not just like those trending makeup transformation photos. 

It is a frank warning against tanning. This selfie contains a strong message about exposing your skin under the sun and skin cancer.

Tawny Willoughby, 27-year old wife and mother of a 2-year old boy, got diagnosed with skin cancer. 

She posted her scabbed face photo right after one of her cancer treatments with the caption: 

If anyone needs a little motivation to not lay in the tanning bed and sun here ya go! This is what skin cancer treatment can look like. Wear sunscreen and get a spray tan. 

You only get one skin and you should take care of it. Learn from other people's mistakes. Don't let tanning prevent you from seeing your children grow up. That's my biggest fear now that I have a two year old little boy of my own. 

The photo has been shared for more than 50,000 since she posted it on April 26, 2015.

Tawny disclosed that she did the bulk of tanning in high school. She said that she laid an average of 4-5 times a week and she did it frequently because her tan faded very fast.

I never laid in the tanning bed and in the sun in the same day. I never laid in the tanning bed twice in one day.

She had her first skin cancer diagnosis at 21 and now, at the age of 27, she had basal cell carcinoma 5 times and squamous cell carcinoma once (excluding her face).

I go to the dermatologist every 6-12 months and usually have a skin cancer removed at each checkup. I'm very thankful to not have had melanoma! Skin cancer is not always moles, only one of mine have been a mole.

Get any suspicious, new and growing spot checked out. Anything that doesn't heal, possibly bleeds on and off and crusts. The sooner you find it the less likely it will leave a disfiguring scar or grow deep enough to metastasize.

Melanoma kills, non melanoma disfigures (and can also kill). Don't be a statistic! This treatment was done using a cream called Aldara (imiquimod). I've also had the following treatments: Curettage and Electrodessication, Cryosurgery (freezing with liquid nitrogen), Surgical Excision and Photodynamic Therapy (PDT).

If you have any question about her story and skin cancer, you can visit Tawny's Facebook.