Published Feb 23, 2021

‘Married at First Sight’ Reality TV Star Lauren Huntriss Had Pimple On Her Nose that Turned Out to Be Skin Cancer; How to Protect Yourself

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Lauren's Pimple Turns Out to Be Skin Cancer

Lauren Huntriss, 33, recently spoke about her skin cancer battle which began when she noticed a spot on her nose that was bleeding.
A 2015 biopsy revealed that Huntriss had cancer; she treated it with surgery.
Protect yourself from skin cancer by staying out of the sun, wearing sunscreen and avoiding tanning beds.

Married at First Sight Australian TV star Lauren Huntriss, 33, recently opened up about battling skin cancer at 27.

In 2015, Huntriss noticed a spot on her nose which looked like a wart or acne, and wouldn’t stop bleeding, reports The Daily Mail.

Related: 'Real Housewives of Dallas' Star Tiffany Hendra, 49, Shares Scars From Skin Cancer Surgery, Says She's Now Part of "Melanoma Warrior Tribe"

A biopsy of the new growth on her nose confirmed that it was cancer. Huntriss says she’s “lucky to have caught it when I did.” Because of earlier detection, she was able to treat it with surgery.

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A post shared by Lauren Huntriss (@laurenhuntriss)

Lauren’s Skin Cancer Battle

Following the biopsy, Huntriss had an operation to remove the cancer, and also to re-shape her nose. The skin cancer left her with “a big hole” on her nose, she says.

“Funnily enough I decided to make an appointment with a dermatologist to talk about treatment options for my acne,” Huntriss wrote on Instagram. “On observation, the dermatologist noticed this spot on my nose. He said it looked suspicious so took a biopsy. Results came back and guess what?… it was a skin cancer! ‘But I'm only 27!’ I said at the time.”

Huntriss has used her experience to raise awareness around skin cancer, and continues to urge her fans to get things checked out if something doesn’t feel right, or if they notice unusual changes on their skin. "Don’t risk it, don’t wait or it may be too late,” she says.

Surgery is the Best Option for Melanoma

How to Protect Yourself from Skin Cancer

Even during the winter months, it’s important to exercise caution when out in the sun, and protect yourself from skin cancer. “The sun is not your friend. For most people, there are simple ways to significantly reduce your risk of developing skin cancer,” dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman at Manhattan Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery told us in an earlier interview,

Here are Dr. Engelman’s tips to mitigate your risk of developing skin cancer:

Avoid sun during peak hours. This means from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It doesn't mean you should never go outside during the middle of the day, but make sure you're protected when you do venture outdoors.
Cover your skin and eyes. A wide brim hat and sunglasses will protect your face, the top of your head, your ears, and the delicate skin around your eyes.
Wear an SPF of 30 or higher. Many facial moisturizers have SPF built into them. Dr. Engelman also recommends reapplying every few hours, or after excessive sweating or swimming.
Get an annual skin check. You can check your own skin for anything that looks out of the ordinary, but you should still get a yearly check to make sure you didn't miss anything. If you do notice anything out of the ordinary in between checks, schedule an appointment to talk to your doctor about it..
Avoid tanning beds. Tanning beds can significantly increase your risk of developing melanoma. Dr. Engelman recommends a sunless tanner instead. "There's absolutely no benefit to going to a tanning bed," Dr. Engelman says.

Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Skin From Skin Cancer

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