In 2007, Michelle Monaghan’s husband noticed that she had a suspicious-looking mole. She didn’t take his concerns seriously at first, but after finally listening to him and getting it checked out, Michelle received a melanoma diagnosis. Since then, she’s become a huge advocate for proper skin care, including wearing sunscreen, making regular visits to a dermatologist, and having a good routine. While talking to Us Weekly about being a global ambassador for skincare company U Beauty, Michelle spoke about getting her diagnosis years ago and her current skin care routine. She also strongly warned about one popular activity that also puts you at a huge risk for getting melanoma: the tanning bed.
Michelle Monaghan is getting candid about her battle with a serious form of skin cancer.
Monaghan, 49, exclusively opened up to Us Weekly about being diagnosed with melanoma, after not being aware of the severity of skin cancer, and why SPF is so important to her now more than ever.
“I was diagnosed with melanoma several years ago, and it was something that really shocked me. I didn’t know anything about skin cancer,” the White Lotus alum told Us. “For anybody out there, please do not go to the tanning bed. You’re five times more likely to get melanoma. So I really encourage people to just get that faux tan, but wear the sunscreen.”
“[Sunscreen] is critical for me; it’s non-negotiable for me every single day, rain or shine, 365 days a year,” she continued.
Monaghan’s husband, Peter White, discovered the melanoma and “encouraged” her to visit a dermatologist.
“He basically saved my life,” Monaghan told Us. “As a result of that, I really started to take my skin care a lot more seriously. [I] really started to do the deep dive on ingredient safety and all of those things. And so now I consider myself an advocate. I learned a lot, and so I really want to share with people how important it is to adopt a sunscreen into your daily routine and how easy it is.”
Michelle has said in the past that although she has fair skin, she used tanning beds pretty often when she was younger. She’s also talked about being outside in the sun a lot as a child and never using sun protection because she and her friends just wanted to get that glorified summer tan. This hits so close to home for me. I tan easily and it takes a lot for me to get burned. I’m ashamed to admit that I was terrible about using sunscreen while I was younger because I was willfully oblivious about the consequences. I also went to the tanning bed for a brief period in my early 20s. In my dumb youth, I believed it when someone equally as dumb told me that it would be a “good base” for spring break. I started treating my skin a lot better as I got older and noticed the early signs of skin damage. Over the years, I’ve adopted a good daily skin care routine and keep sunscreen with a high SPF on hand in different places (home, car, gym bag, etc.) so I have no excuse not to put it on.
I really appreciate Michelle speaking out about her experience. It’s like those who raised awareness about the dangers of smoking or drinking alcohol back when they were socially acceptable. There is so much misinformation and fear-mongering out there right now, that even a message as simple as “don’t go to the tanning bed” or “listen to your partner when they say your mole looks weird” could save a life. I hope those voices drown out the ones who are more likely to promote woo-woo theories that will endanger more people.
Photos credit: James Warren/Bang Showbiz/Avalon, Simone Comi/IPA/INSTARimages, The Daily Stardust/Backgrid, Getty Images
I remember acquaintances using baby oil to get a tan. Luckily, even back in the 70’s I thought that was too much.
I’m so glad Michelle got the right diagnosis in time to be treated and beat cancer. I’m also very glad she’s become a spokesperson on this issue. Not everybody is so lucky and unfortunately, I have personal experience of my soulmate being misdiagnosed, wasting precious time in which the cancer spread and killed him. His loss will affect me and our daughter every day for the rest of our lives.
Women…don’t forget to put sunscreen on the back of your neck and your ears! Best tip from my dermatologist. People too often forget those areas and apparently the top of the ear is a big area for skin cancers!
Men can also get skin cancer and should also avoid the tanning bed and take your advice.
I have been diagnosed with melanoma stage 3B. The worst is the Shane and Blame that people put on you.
“You should have worn sunscreen. You were a sun goddess as a teen.”
Yuppers sunscreen was used as I ran out the door and hardly ever reapplied. My skin cancer is from medications.
The shame is the worst part if skin cancer. People telling you its your fault.
Oh wow in the pic in the white dress her skin looks so fair, did not realize she was this skin type, definitely very dangerous to stay in the sun for long without protection, I am also very concerned about this – only learned about how mandatory sunscreen and regular skin checks really are as an adult.