Tanning Beds - New Warning or Old News?

[C.Ann]

Definitely "old news" - just news that many have chosen to ignore..

No matter how you get your tan - in a tanning bed or via direct sunlight - just keep in mind that by the time you hit your late 30's to early 40's, your skin (particularly your face) is likely going to look like that of someone at least 20 years older..

My one cousin was a "sun worshipper".. As soon as it was warm enough in the late spring, she would be out there "working on her tan".. Granted - she had a nice tan every year - but by the time she was in her late 30's, people began referring to her face as looking like "the side of a barn with the paint peeling off".. Such a shame, because she was very, very pretty - until she prematurely "aged" herself - all for the sake of having a nice "tan"..

I would never, ever use a tanning bed - for any reason..

 

[minkydog]

Think about it. The "base tan" idea is a myth and doesn't do anything in terms of fighting cancer. You are exposing yourself to UV rays, intensified in the tanning bed. If you wear sunscreen you shouldn't burn.

.

A lot of people think that tanning is healthier than burning but it's just not true. Tanning causes permanent changes to the skin with every exposure. THe more tanning you do, the more damage you have. Not everyone who tans will experience skin cancer. But many do.

My brother died of melanoma. He was not a tanner, but he spent several years in the Marines at Twenty-nine Palms (CA) and I believe that was where he endured the most exposure. He had a small bump on his face that wouldn't get better, nothing that you would automatically think "skin cancer." just a red bump. Unfortunately it was stage 4 melanoma. He lived about a year. Before he died he had the bump removed. Then most of the cheek. Then the lower jaw and part of his neck. And still the cancer was relentless. My brother endured a complete horror. If you want to see pictures of what he looked like google "radical neck." But be prepared

 

[moon]

Months ago I posted an article which said that tanning beds were as deadly as arsenic. I really don't understand why anyone would take that risk. It just hit me reading this thread that yes, tanners are pretty much like smokers

There' no such thing as a "healthy tan" . A tan is the skin reaction to being damaged.


I also don't think tans are very attractive. I'm happy with my "pasty" white skin, and I love the thought of keeping a youthful looking skin.


I would never, ever use a tanning bed, or go out without sunscreen.

 

[autumnpalm]

to everyone who has lost a friend or family member to skin cancer. I'm so sorry.

I have never and will never use a tanning bed. I am very pale- I have porcelain skin that- and I am proud of it. It's the way I was made and I have no intention of changing it. For me tanning is 100% not worth the risk and I would never do anything intentionally harmful to my health for the sake of my appearance. In some cases, like the medical reasons mentioned, I see the merits, but for me? No way!

 

[luvthatdisney]

I too used to tan in tanning beds, that was before my DS was dx'd with melanoma at the age of 15. He never used a tanning bed, but had been in sun many many times. He is now 19, but seeing the surgery he had to endure and the large scar he is left with, is all I needed to see.

If you choose to use tanning beds, feel free, but I would recommend you research skin cancer (basal, squamous and melanoma) and learn about them. They are not just elderly cancers. Be educated in your choices. Many people are not, which is why the goverment feels the need to step in and help us make the right choice. You can agree with "Big Brother" or not, but it is for your benefit.

 

[nicolespence3]

ya, under that bed really increase our chance of skin cancer.. after doing it for like 1 yr, i decide to change to sunless tan products that give me the great tan i want but not hurting my skin. i'll go dig out the products that i try before and let ya know again.

 

[nicolespence3]

i had been trying a lot sunless tan, since gods know when and i had a lot of terrible experience.
Like
Mystic tan - i think it gives the worst color.
jan tana spray tan - is also too stinky for me. my bf don't even want to come near me.
Famous Daves Tanner - I bought this on eBay with high hopes. I did not like the product. I thought it smelled bad and made me orange, it also streaked, but that is probably bad application technique. I am surprised at the 99.9% positive rating that Famous Dave has on eBay - Definitely not worth the money!

Actually, a lot of my friends are using mystic tan while they search on google and they get nothing by mystic so most of them brought to try but the result was not really great not only it doesn't really gives the look they want and it really makes their skin dry. So my friends and i really sick of the undesirable result we got.

So we were searching up and down for a better one because we really want to look amazing tan. But we were really afraid of the skin cancer, so there's no way we gonna be under that hot sun or the tanning salon. So spending quite a no. of shipping on trial to get free samples. Our group of friends share the shipping fee, we took turn to apply the free trial (hehe, so we saved and of cause we cancel before the trial end so we only pay the shipping fee) and we finally feel that this is really one of the best. Is call Joliese tan. we found it at http://thehealthweekly.com/index2.html and of cause it say celebrity tan, we definitely must try it. and we really do love it.

what we like about it is, not only it gives the kind of tan we want. We really can feel that our skin being moisturize which really shock us and of cause it doesn't stink. haha.

 

[Hedy]

Probably a little of both. But is the chance that the research is correct worth the risk?

I personally do not believe that a tan looks nice, it will always look strange to me like having too much makeup on or something.

I am, however, predijudiced since both my mother & son died from melanoma. They never used tanning beds & were not exactly sun worshippers. So it's not the only cause of cancer, but probably is a contributor for some individuals. For me, I would rather forgo the tanning beds & sun bathing than have to fight skin cancer.

I think the fact the kids under the age of 18 can go tanning is reprehensible. It's a stupid move, but so are other things people do.
Me, I'll stay pallid, slap my suncreen on daily, and be awesome.

 

[CathrynRose]

I think it's old news.

But non-tanners should be happy. They'll be taxing tanner's - just like they did with smokers: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/24/fashion/24Skin.html

 

[brockash]

I think the fact the kids under the age of 18 can go tanning is reprehensible. It's a stupid move, but so are other things people do.
Me, I'll stay pallid, slap my suncreen on daily, and be awesome.

ITA! I was one of the under 18 group that started tanning when I was 17, and it was just so stupid. I have no idea why my mom let me (I'm guessing she didn't want me to be mad at her,) but I agree it should be illegal for 18 and under. I know for sure, I'll never be signing a waiver for either of my kiddos, they can hate me all they want.

 

[allison443]

ITA! I was one of the under 18 group that started tanning when I was 17, and it was just so stupid. I have no idea why my mom let me (I'm guessing she didn't want me to be mad at her,) but I agree it should be illegal for 18 and under. I know for sure, I'll never be signing a waiver for either of my kiddos, they can hate me all they want.

Where I live quite a few teenage girls go tanning all year round. I'm talking 16 years old and up. Those that don't tan year round will tan for a special event like prom. I do not allow my dds to go tanning. Last year before dd's senior prom she asked to go tanning a couple of times, she was going to pay for it herself, etc. I just couldn't let her. When she showed me the pictures I think maybe 3 or 4 girls hadn't tanned for prom. Even her redhaired friend with very very pale skin went tanning! I did feel bad but dd is very fair and I didn't think it was a good idea.