Tanning Beds - New Warning or Old News?

[PRmamiDEdos]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-01-19-tanning-cancer_N.htm

I happen to use the beds when I have an event coming up during the winter. I have a bridal shower to go to this weekend and I'm wearing a dress and open toe booties. I only go once, maybe 2x a week, depending on how long I have to tan and I usually use the beds for 15 minutes each time.

How does everyone else feel about the tanning beds? Do you think this is new information that they have found out or do you think it just sounds like a broken record?

I don't think this will keep me from indoor tanning, but it will be in the back of my mind.

P.S. and kinda OT - Did anyone ever see that clip from Final Destination where the girl gets locked in the tanning bed and burns to death? That runs through my mind everytime I lie down in one!! Scary....

 

[si-am]

I see tanning beds to be kind of the same as smoking. People know it's bad for you, know it could give you cancer, but for their own reasons, do it anyway.

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

"An analysis of numerous studies that concluded the risk of melanoma jumps by 75% in people who used tanning beds in their teens and 20s."


I've never used a tanning bed and I never will. This is something I feel very strongly about.

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

"An analysis of numerous studies that concluded the risk of melanoma jumps by 75% in people who used tanning beds in their teens and 20s."


I've never used a tanning bed and I never will. This is something I feel very strongly about.

What about your 30's? Does anyone know? The first time I used one was 3 years ago. I just turned 35.

 

[toddlers_mom]

I will admit, before trips just like the one we have planned in May, I go for a little while to get a base tan down. It sounds weird, but if I don't do that I will just burn all summer long.

 

[Randi]

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.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I started going to the tanning bed when I was 17 pretty much religiously. From 18-20 I worked at one and went a lot. From 20-26 I went 2-3 times a month (even though I had an unlimited membership) or more if I was getting ready to go on vacation or had to be in a bathing suit. During this time my Mom had 5 places of skin cancer removed from her face in 2 years. My Mom has fair skin with red hair and freckles so since I got my Dad's skin (tans easily, rarely burns) I thought I would be ok and I always wore sunscreen on my face during the day. About a year ago I started noticing that I was getting some wrinkles and my face didn't have the fresh, tight look it did 5 years before so I decided to quit the tanning bed altogether. My Dad had skin cancer found in the skin on the tops of both of his hands about 6 months ago and they had to pull back the skin and clean underneath to get it all out. That was finally enough for me to never go back to one again.

I tried the spray tanning (where you go into the booth not where someone spray tans you individually) and felt like it looked really fake. I wanted to find something that gave me some color but didn't have all of the chemicals and parabens that sunless tanners had but also didn't turn me orange. After a lot of googling and research, I found Shady Glow (sold on ulta.com). It's about $30 but Ulta usually has some coupons or discounts every now and then. It's a spray and I LOVE it. No orange color, no lines, and it lasts about a week. It's made with more natural ingredients (the color comes from a dye found in vegetables). I'm sorry, other people may not care, but I can't stand being pasty white.

Now, I try to do everything I can to prevent all kinds of cancer. Eat organic foods (to me it only makes sense that there'll eventually be a conclusive study that all of the crap we put on our produce and food will lead to cancer, I STRONGLY believe that each of us are under huge "bio-burdens" with all of the chemicals in our food, drinks, soap, shampoo, etc. that people 40 years ago weren't consuming or consuming in such high quantities), work out consistently, wear tons of sunscreen all over, etc.

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

I started going to the tanning bed when I was 17 pretty much religiously. From 18-20 I worked at one and went a lot. From 20-26 I went a few times a month (even though I had an unlimited membership) or more if I was getting ready to go on vacation or had to be in a bathing suit. During this time my Mom had 5 places of skin cancer removed from her face in 2 years. My Mom has fair skin with red hair and freckles so since I got my Dad's skin (tans easily, rarely burns) I thought I would be ok and I always wore sunscreen on my face during the day. About a year ago I started noticing that I was getting some wrinkles and my face didn't have the fresh, tight look it did 5 years before so I decided to quit the tanning bed altogether. My Dad had skin cancer found in the skin on the tops of both of his hands about 6 months ago and they had to pull back the skin and clean underneath to get it all out. That was finally enough for me to never go back to one again.

I tried the spray tanning (where you go into the booth not where someone spray tans you individually) and felt like it looked really fake. I wanted to find something that gave me some color but didn't have all of the chemicals and parabens that sunless tanners had but also didn't turn me orange. After a lot of googling and research, I found Shady Glow (sold on ulta.com). It's about $30 but Ulta usually has some coupons or discounts every now and then. It's a spray and I LOVE it. No orange color, no lines, and it lasts about a week.

Do you they sell it in the store too or only online? Does it have that funny, self-tanner smell? ALL self-tanners stink!! Literally and the smell lasts and doesn't wash off. That's what I hate most about them.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Do you they sell it in the store too or only online? Does it have that funny, self-tanner smell? ALL self-tanners stink!! Literally and the smell lasts and doesn't wash off. That's what I hate most about them.

I've never been to the store so I don't know if they sell it there too. To tell you the truth I don't remember the smell! (it's been a couple of weeks since I've used it, I get pretty lazy in the winter with it ) It doesn't smell like a typical sunless tanner though (I think Jergens smells AWFUL!) and it definitely doesn't last (the smell). I'll have to see when I get home what it smells like.

 

[RadioNate]

People still don't know that tanning beds cause skin cancer? I too thought it was liking smoking. Everyone knows how bad it is, yet people do it anyway.

I had a good friend who was a swimsuit model and tanned often. She got melanoma at 26. I have to believe it was from all the tanning. How else would a healthy 26 year old develop skin cancer?

 

[Darsa]

Did anyone ever see that clip from Final Destination where the girl gets locked in the tanning bed and burns to death?

This is exactly why I would neverever use one of those lie-down beds. I know it's fictional, but I have an EXTREMELY active imagination!

I won't tan in a bed or whatever, and I won't let DD14 either much to her disgruntlement (because she's immortal, yanno). I just don't think the risk is worth it; not to mention I surely don't need to be doing anything at almost 40 that's going to AGE my skin more!!

 

[GoodFairies]

I will admit, before trips just like the one we have planned in May, I go for a little while to get a base tan down. It sounds weird, but if I don't do that I will just burn all summer long.

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.

I started going to the tanning bed when I was 17 pretty much religiously. From 18-20 I worked at one and went a lot. From 20-26 I went 2-3 times a month (even though I had an unlimited membership) or more if I was getting ready to go on vacation or had to be in a bathing suit. During this time my Mom had 5 places of skin cancer removed from her face in 2 years. My Mom has fair skin with red hair and freckles so since I got my Dad's skin (tans easily, rarely burns) I thought I would be ok and I always wore sunscreen on my face during the day. About a year ago I started noticing that I was getting some wrinkles and my face didn't have the fresh, tight look it did 5 years before so I decided to quit the tanning bed altogether. My Dad had skin cancer found in the skin on the tops of both of his hands about 6 months ago and they had to pull back the skin and clean underneath to get it all out. That was finally enough for me to never go back to one again.

I tried the spray tanning (where you go into the booth not where someone spray tans you individually) and felt like it looked really fake. I wanted to find something that gave me some color but didn't have all of the chemicals and parabens that sunless tanners had but also didn't turn me orange. After a lot of googling and research, I found Shady Glow (sold on ulta.com). It's about $30 but Ulta usually has some coupons or discounts every now and then. It's a spray and I LOVE it. No orange color, no lines, and it lasts about a week. It's made with more natural ingredients (the color comes from a dye found in vegetables). I'm sorry, other people may not care, but I can't stand being pasty white.

Now, I try to do everything I can to prevent all kinds of cancer. Eat organic foods (to me it only makes sense that there'll eventually be a conclusive study that all of the crap we put on our produce and food will lead to cancer, I STRONGLY believe that each of us are under huge "bio-burdens" with all of the chemicals in our food, drinks, soap, shampoo, etc. that people 40 years ago weren't consuming or consuming in such high quantities), work out consistently, wear tons of sunscreen all over, etc.

Unfortunately in your case due to your age the major damage has already happened. I hope you are duly monitoring your skin and scalp.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Unfortunately in your case due to your age the major damage has already happened. I hope you are duly monitoring your skin and scalp.

Oh, I know and I do. Thanks

 

[FireDancer]

There is a big difference between being exposed to natural sunlight and tanning beds. I avoid the later. There are cases in which people are advised to use them to fight SAD or because of extremely low Vitamin D levels but if you are just using them for vanity reasons I wouldn't take the risk.

 

[MinnieMe87]

After a lot of googling and research, I found Shady Glow (sold on ulta.com). It's about $30 but Ulta usually has some coupons or discounts every now and then. It's a spray and I LOVE it. No orange color, no lines, and it lasts about a week. It's made with more natural ingredients (the color comes from a dye found in vegetables). I'm sorry, other people may not care, but I can't stand being pasty white.

Thank you for suggesting this, I've been looking for a new one to try!

There is a big difference between being exposed to natural sunlight and tanning beds. I avoid the later. There are cases in which people are advised to use them to fight SAD or because of extremely low Vitamin D levels but if you are just using them for vanity reasons I wouldn't take the risk.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Thank you for suggesting this, I've been looking for a new one to try!

You're welcome It took a couple of times of figuring out how to spray it over my knees/elbows to not get that "dirty" look. It's not a super dark tan but just enough for some color.

Now if only I could get that warm lovely Summer day feeling I got from the tanning bed! My electric blanket just doesn't do the same (but it comes close!).

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

I managed a tanning salon back in the day, but now I refuse to step foot in a bed. It's been about 2 years since I went in a bed, but still new moles pop up every day and I have sunspots on my face at 24. If you're going to tan, at least do yourself a favor and use a good lotion that are okay to use in a tanning bed, and moisturize to maintain so that you don't have to go as frequently.

Also, someone mentioned how there are medical conditions that can be treated in tanning beds. I had a gentleman who had a form of cancer (for some reason I'm thinking a bone cancer), and his doctor told him it was beneficial for him to tan, likely for the Vitamin D is my guess.

 

[Disneycrazy!!]

Everyone always assume that nothing bad is going to happen to them, even when they know the risks.... it really annoys me when they find out they have skin cancer from tanning or lung cancer from smoking and they act all shocked by the information.....well DUH you numbnutt...they don't have warnings out that it can kill you for no reason!

 

[teskak]

Tanning beds are a fast track to Melanoma

There was a publicised story in Australia of a woman who died from it at age 24 from a couple of weeks use. Besides the UV exposure making you look like a dried up prune it would be a better use of time to play on a freeway. and probably safer.

 

[toddlers_mom]

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.

I never said it does anything in terms of fighting cancer. It does however keep me from getting sunburns all summer. Especially in Florida sun. And I do wear sunscreen. I know it sounds like I am making it up, but I can not tan for a couple months and then regardless of how much sunscreen I wear I will burn badly. If I get a base tan, I can wear sunscreen and maintain a healthy tan. I just have really odd fair skin I guess! Although it doesn't matter probably, I don't go all year round. I just start a couple months before summer time