According to the Skin Care Foundation, those who use indoor tanning equipment are four times more likely to develop melanoma. In addition, according to the foundation, sunbeds give off 12 to 15 times more UV radiation than the sun.
Dr. Zeichner said that Patricia suffers from body dysmorphic disorder, wherein one is constantly left unhappy with their own appearance.
Even though “Tan Mom” was released on $25,000 bail, Patricia faced up to 10 years in prison if she was convicted.
“She never went in,” Patricia maintained of her daughter in 2012. “It was beautiful out, and they went into the kiddie pool. She’s a redhead. She got sunburnt.”
She also insisted that tanning was her own, harmless activity, and that it doesn’t affect anyone but herself.
“I didn’t do anything wrong. Is there something wrong about getting your nails done or somebody who smokes too much or somebody who overeats?” Krentcil asked.
“If this was such a problem, why wasn’t this said years ago?”
Cleared of charges – moved to Florida
In February 2013, Patricia was cleared of child endangerment. Prosecutors said that a grand jury refused to indict her.
But though she was technically off the hook, mothers around the country continued to criticize her parenting. Patricia responded by calling them fat and ugly.
“Look in the mirror and look at yourself instead of looking at me. I’m sorry I’m tan. I like to be tan. It just feels good. But I really that think these moms … need to step off and step away.”
The mother-of-five was a viral sensation, though her fame became a nightmare. Media and paparazzi followed her around, and she was mocked by Kim Kardashian and a sketch on Saturday Night Live.
Ultimately, it became too much. She started drinking, and the family decided to relocate to Tampa, Florida, to get a fresh start.
Moreover, Patricia Krentcil said that her then-teenage children Ashley, 18, Alec, 17, and Austin, 15, were “badgered at school” after the incident.
