Has your teen ever used a self-tanning booth?

[luvflorida]

My DD20, almost 21, uses one occasionally, and I don't mind. I feel she is old enough and she knows her limit. On the other hand, my DD14 is always asking to use one. She has very fair skin and would love to look tan. I have not allowed her to do so. I also believe there are minimum age limits for using tanning booths, and I'm not so sure it is safe for younger ages. It also bothers me because I want her to realize that she is beautiful with fair skin and doesn't need a tan to look good.

Has your teen used a tanning booth, and if so, at what age did you agree to it?

 

[Spinning]

I would never ever allow a teen to use a tanning booth.

 

[Sherrypooh]

I started using a tanning booth around 18 and I paid for it myself. However, I do have an olive complexion so, it didn't take long for me to tan. Sorry I can't be of more help!

 

[Dan Murphy]

.......she knows her limit....

There is no safe limit, any use damages the skin, enhances the possibility, at worst, of future skin cancers, some very deadly, at a minimum, early aging of the skin and appearance. Hopefully she will realize the long term dangers outway short term vanity.

 

[RadioNate]

There are good self tanners and bronzers out there, I wouldn't have a problem with a HSer using one of those.

No one I know uses traditional tanning booths anymore. Everyone has moved on to airbrush tanning and topical self tanners.

 

[Crankyshank]

The long term skin damage from tanning booths is much worse than by outdoor tanning because you get a higher concentration of UV rays.

I have olive skin. I have never had a sunburn in my life, but at 30 I can see the effects that sunning myself as a pre-teen and teen has done to my skin. I can only imagine how bad it would be if I used a tanning booth like a lot of my friends did.

 

[dg39]

My dd works in a tanning salon. I'm not sure if its a law or not, but in her place no one at age 14 is even allowed to tan. They must get the parents permission first. They need to fill out a certain form....They do try to discourage it though. They rather that kids don't do it.

 

[Buckalew11]

Being in the "beauty industry", I receive alot of material on tanning (they want me to purchase a tanning bed for business). One of the articles I read was about how addicting tanning can be (to anyone, any age). Some people feel the need to do it all year long, year after year. They just don't like the way they look w/o a tan. I realize some color looks healthy, but I'd hate for a child that young to even get the idea in their head that she needs to be tan to be pretty. Ugh! That is what the industry is banking on!

 

[tar heel]

No way.

 

[Megster]

I did it a few times before I went to Mexico to get a base tan. And I did it 2 or 3 times when I got back from Mexico so I could keep the color because I was going to my prom like a month later. Other than that I haven't really used one. I do understand how it can be addicting though, the warmth makes me feel so happy, especially during the cold New England winter.

Many of my friends in high school tanned all the time. Many of them began to look really bad, you could tell that they went all the time and it just didn't look very good.

I think that other than a special occasion (a vacation, dance, etc.) you shouldn't let her go. And if you do eventually decide to let her she should have to pay for it. Just my opinion

 

[magicmouse2]

I have used one ofter when I was younger. I think thats is why I have dry skin now. I get my moles checked regularly. I am a sun lover though and thats one of the reasons I love Florida. I hate living in a cold climate.

 

[ca859093]

I wouldn't let her do a tanning bed, but I would let her do sunless tanning lotions or even take her to do mystic tan were it is sprayed on you. Maybe that will curb her urge.

 

[SillyMe]

At the risk of getting flamed, yes, I allowed my 13 yo DD to tan for about 2 months before we went to Disney last year. I wouldn't allow her to do it year round.

 

[pumba]

with a big dent in her leg from having skin cancer......she is a fair skinned red head and thought this was always a good idea......well she is lucky to have her leg under her.....
Think before you or anyone else does this......My daughter would not even do it and she also would not let her red head daughter do it.....

 

[LindsayDunn228]

You are the Mommy. What you say goes. If you don't want her to go, don't let her go, end of story. I think it's awesome you are teaching her to be happy with her own natural beautiness

 

[mudnuri]

The youngest I tanned in a booth was for my junior prom

Most of my lifeguards will tan in the spring- to get a base- before we open for the season. they're all 15-21. In their jobs- even with sunscreen reapplied regularly- they will tan- its just something they can prevent. they use spf 30 and reapply every 45 minutes when we rotate chairs. The couple of girls I have that don't tan- are always burnt the first week we're open. The girls with the base- no burn.
Another reason they do it- is becuase they were a multitude of suits- and the amount of suit lines they'd have after just a week of guarding with different suits on would be really kind of interesting to look at to say the least!

I tan for 3 months every spring. yes- I know it causes cancer- yes i know how unsafe it is- but I also know that theres a lot of things that we all do that are not "good or safe" for us. I start out 3x a week at 5 minutes work my way up to 2x a week at 18 minutes- then go back down to 3x a week at 5. By the time we open, i'm tanned and will not burn. Again, when i'm in the sun all day in the summer- sunscreen is reapplied regularly. Not as often as the guards- but a couple times a day.

If my kids wanted to- when they're teens- well- for junior prom- I'd let them. I went probably 7 years without tanning in a booth. I'm not addicted to it- but usually im so dark by the time the suns gone in the fall- my tan stays until january..then february, march and april, i tan.

go ahead flame away- but its not going to change my mind about tanning.

Brandy

 

[LMC]

Use a self-tanner. Mary Kay has a good one (not too bad smelling) and to find a Mary Kay rep in your area go to the Mary Kay web site and put in your zip code.

The key to self tanning is to exfoliate first!! Use a buffing gel or a buffing sponge.

I may get my self tanner out now and get ready for spring break vacation!

 

[tnkrbell]

I would not let me dd use a tanning booth as long as I have control of what she does. Today I just had a chunk taken off my lower back. (Doctor thinks it could be the beginning stages of something luckily I go every 6 months to be checked) I use to love to have some color and the doctors think my weird moles are from the tanning booth. (because of where they are located)

 

[DVC-Don]

Nope, never. But then again I am a Melanoma Skin Cancer survivor. I'd just point to the large hunk of missing skin and muscle on my neck. I darn near died from it in mid 1986 and am lucky to have survived.

 

[Tiggeroo]

I wouldn't let her do it, esp. since she's fair skinned. If I had a dd who wanted to tan a couple of weeks before prom or a trip, I would explain the risks and maybe let her. But that's about it. It can cause cancer and I wouldn't let my boys smoke cigs.