An Irish woman who spent a lot of time in tanning beds is currently treating the precancerous cells found on her face, and the side effects of her treatment serve as a stern warning to take care of your skin.

Dublin native Mags Murphy created a Facebook page earlier this month to document her skin treatment journey. In a January 4 post, Murphy revealed she would be using a topical cream to essentially burn away the precancerous cells on her face that are, she suspects, the result of using "sun beds just for a tan in the shitty Irish weather and a childhood running the streets all day with not a thought for sunfactor."

The images show Murphy's face getting progressively redder throughout the treatment:

Murphy wrote in her first post that she'd like as many people as possible to share her page, and that she hopes others learn from her mistakes.

"I heard all the warnings years ago and closed my eyes and ears to it all," she wrote. "[M]aybe someone will open their eyes to this if it's closer to home. I'm not looking for sympathy, just to raise awareness. PLEASE SHARE, especially with your tan loving friends."

Her message is resonating:

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Murphy's posts highlight an important health issue for everyone.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society, and cases of melanoma — the most severe form of skin cancer — have dramatically increased in the United States, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Dr. Janellen Smith, a dermatology professor at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, told ATTN: that people can lower their risk of getting skin cancer by regularly applying sunscreen and staying out of the sun during the brightest times of the day.

"There are certainly ways of minimizing the chances of developing skin cancer," Dr. Smith told ATTN:. "These include: Avoid the sun between the hours of 10 and 4, especially during the late spring and early summer. Stay in the shade, especially during midday hours, and avoid indoor tanning."

[H/T Cosmopolitan]