White woman who identifies as black issues skin cancer update after tanning skin

It's a tale as old as time: sitting in the sun for too long can result in skin cancer if you're not careful.

Controversial social media personality Rachel Dolezal, who was born white yet identifies as trans-Black character Nkechi Amare Diallo, doesn't seem to have heeded generations of health advice though.

11 years since being exposed as a race-faker, the OnlyFans star has revealed via Instagram that she recently underwent surgery after being diagnosed with Stage-1 Melanoma.

Rachel Dolezal recently underwent cancer treatment (racheladolezal/Instagram)

Dolezal wrote to her 70,000 followers that the experience was a "tough but grounding reminder of what years of sun (and a childhood in a family that didn't believe in sunscreen) can do over time".

In lieu of spending hours of the sun lounger, the 48-year-old has now turned to liquid tanning drops to maintain her glow.

"They have carotene in them and I know that there's an old tradition to drink carrot juice and beet juice, and it's supposed to stimulate your melanin," she said.

The photosynthetic pigment known as carotene is found inside sweet potatoes and carrots, and when ingested can power a person's skin with an orangey tint.

Dolezal will never again "lay out in the sun" following her cancer scare.

The scar on her back was photographed for social media (racheladolezal/Instagram)

This comes after wrestler-turned-actor John Cena came out with his own skin cancer story.

In his words, the 48-year-old "neglected" skin protection throughout a childhood spent in Massachusetts an early adult life in Florida.

Cena received "some unfortunate news" regarding the impact this had on his health after booking himself in with a dermatologist.

He told People: "I had a cancerous spot removed from my right pec. A year later I went back and had another spot removed close to my right shoulder.

"It shows up like a white polka dot on the side of my chest and on my shoulder. If you watch WWE, you'll be able to see them."

There are several types of skin cancer; the main three being basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.