Christie Brinkley Says She Accidentally Discovered Skin Cancer On Her Face

Supermodel Christie Brinkley, 69, is using her platform to raise awareness about skin cancer prevention after a recent health scare.

The model opened up about her skin cancer diagnosis for the first time during an appearance on the Today show Tuesday.

Brinkley revealed she had basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer, removed from her face after it was detected almost by chance during a visit to her daughter’s dermatologist.

“I wasn’t even scheduled for a checkup; I was accompanying my daughter to the dermatologist,” Brinkley recounted. “I was in the room, and he had this little magnifying glass out, and he’s looking at a couple of things that she was worried about.”

Then, Brinkley pointed out a suspicious spot on the side of her face. “I thought, ‘There is that little spot right on the side of my head right here…. Should I say anything? It’s not my appointment,'” she said.

The dermatologist quickly determined a biopsy was needed, which confirmed Brinkley had basal cell carcinoma. “Then the biopsy came back [as] cancer,” she said. “They took care of it, and luckily, my hair grows in that direction, but the scar is barely noticeable.”

According to the American Cancer Society, basal cell carcinoma begins in the outer layer of the skin and typically develops on sun-exposed areas like the face. While it grows slowly and rarely spreads, it still requires prompt treatment.

Brinkley first revealed her diagnosis in March via Instagram, sharing photos before and after the cancerous spot was removed from her head. She assured fans then that her “doctors stitched me up to perfection.”

On Tuesday, the former Sports Illustrated cover model urged viewers to take proactive measures regarding sun protection and regular self-examination.

“I’ll be slathering on my SPF 30, reapplying as needed, wearing long sleeves and a wide-brim hat. And doing regular total body checkups… that is a must,” Brinkley stated. “Make your own good luck by making that checkup appointment today. Slather up, my friends!”

Brinkley was recently in the news for clapping back at social media troll who called her “old.”