Do you allow your teen to use tanning beds?

[Michie]

On the way to work I heard on the radio that the Melanoma death rate is still climbing and that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer suffered by people.

My 2 oldest children are boys, they are in their 20's, and they have always been pretty decent about using sunscreen; we also have a dermatologist in the family and he has told them some fairly scary stories, which I think has helped. I have friends, who have teens who use tanning beds, and they are ok with that.

I have not been to a tanning bed in decades. Do parents have to give permission for minors to use them?

 

[AprilShowers]

My girls are 12 & 10 and NO I will not allow them to use a tanning bed when they ask.
That's like putting a cigarette into their mouth and lighting it for them.
Tanning beds and sun exposure are proven causes of skin cancer.

My neices use them before the prom and stuff and their mothers think there's nothing wrong with that.

 

[yearbook50]

i used them before major events when I was a teen. Then again, I lived in florida and usually had a decent tan all year round so the tanning bed was just for evening out my shoulders and back.

 

[NMAmy]

Nope, although she's asked me. I point her toward her dad's mom and show what all that tanning can do to your skin once you're older. That's scared her straight.

 

[lindakmonty]

I have a tanning bed. I only use it before I go on vacation, or in a wedding or something like that. ds is only 5 now, but once he's 12 or 13 I'll let him tan a few times just so he doesn't get sun burn.

 

[DVC-Don]

Nope. My kids can see the chunk missing from my neck from surgery to survive melanoma cancer everyday.

 

[daisyduck123]

I'm trying to remember which celebrity/famous person recently said she has melanoma from the frequent use of tanning beds. Anyone remember? Seems I read about it 2 weeks ago or so.

 

[mommiepoppins]

i do and its bad

 

[SandraVB79]

I don't do it myself, and won't allow my kids.
It gives you skin cancer, it makes sure you will have leather-like, wrinkled skin and, in my case, it is dangerous because my veins are messed up (I must avoid heat/ sun as much as possible)

 

[puffkin]

I probably would allow an older teen to do so in certain situations, like for a prom or wedding or before a vacation. I have used a standing tanning booth from time to time just to get a base tan and a little color. Especially before a vacation so that I don't have as much of a risk of being burned. I usually only use the booth about a month or two, usually 3 days a week. My thought is, they are probably going to get a tan one way or the other, so having a little control over it and giving it to them in controlled doses is better than allowing them to get burned or spend excessive time in the sun. And I would never allow it on a continual basis.

 

[Sparx]

I never burn or tan to well. But I don't like tanning beds. I'm fine with being pale.

 

[powellrj]

my oldest DS has been using them off and on for several years because it keeps his psoriasis under control. His DR. told him at the time that they are wonderful when used for psoriasis, but very dangerous for everyday use.

 

[tar heel]

No way. I wouldn't take them to a tanning bed any more than I would buy them cigarettes.

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

I don't even allow ME to use them.

 

[simba928]

I am 16 and I started tanning a couple months ago. I haven't gone in a while due to school and then my grandfather got sick and was in the hospital, so I just haven't had time. But I was horrified to. My mom pressured me into it. She said it was her treat and I should just try it. I said whatever after a while and gave in. But she had been trying to get me to go for a couple years now. In language arts one day, my teacher told us this story about this girl that was getting married and she wanted to be tan so she would go to one place and tan for like 20 mintues and then go somewhere else and then go somewhere else. On her wedding day, she died and when they did the autopsy her organs were basically cooked like meat. The whole time I was in the tanning bed the first time I went, I kept thinking about that, but then I overthought that after about 3 minutes and started to enjoy it for the remaining 3 minutes.

 

[Cool-Beans]

God, no! But I've studied the tanning bed stuff, and I got skin cancer, so I'm more aware of the effects and dangers than most people.

I've talked to my daughter about it, but, you know, FACTS and CANCER risks are just silly things when an immature girl wants dark skin, so I don't know what she'll do when she's older.

All we can do is guide them and pray, right?

 

[DisneyDotty]

No no no no no! The "shark bite" (removal of melanoma) on my upper left arm is proof enough that laying out in the sun/using tanning beds is just DUMB! And dangerous. And potentially deadly. And I'm constantly fearing that the melanoma will come back. Or that it's spread to other organs. And I've been clean now for almost three years. But that fear with live with me forever.
I have told my DD12 that I will happily pay for any spray-on tans she wants. But no suntans/tanning beds. Ever. Fortunately, she has a very healthy attitude that being pale is just fine.
When will others get this message? This cancer is so preventable...
What's truly frightening is doctors are removing melanomas from teenagers--and not just fair-skinned teenagers.
'
...Off my soapbox now...

 

[Mandabella]

Would someone please explain to me why having a tan is considered attractive and people's natural skin color is not? What is wrong with white skin?

Granted, I have olive skin and tan very easily. However, I go out of my way to wear an SPF daily and avoid the sun to prevent myself from tanning. My fair skinned mother scared the living daylights out of me as a child with horror stories, several family members have had skin cancer, and my dermatolgist really got it into my skull.

 

[jimmalru80]

My twin DD's (16) have neither the time, the $$ nor the desire to use them.

 

[Katie]

My DD(14) used them prior to 8th grade graduation and prior to our departure to the Bahamas. She tanned up beautifully. It also cleared up a couple pimples also....double bonus!
Most of the girls at her school use the tanning bed and several have them in their homes.

okay, hit me!