Tanning before cruise?????

[chrisn]

LOVE it! I don't do beds because my Dermatologist put the fear of God in me. The Mystic Tan lasts for about a week and yes lotion will make it last longer but you can substitute lotions to keep it fresh. DD-17 wanted a real tan (she's very olive complected so tan's easily) for the trip so I agreed to let her do a few sessions to get her base. I really recommend Mystic though!

 

[littlemuffin]

I just reread my posts and they may be a little harsh. I don't mean to contradict anyone and I sometimes believe that Doctors will tell you anything.

I just wish someone could have gotten through to me. Now something that I really enjoyed is lost forever because of the tanning bed.

I hope noone takes offense.

Kathy

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Tanning anywhere is bad for your skin, but I'm guilty of it! I try to tan before a cruise so that I don't burn. A base tan won't prevent you from burning, but it'll prevent you from burning as fast as you would if you didn't have a tan. Every one is different though and some people burn no matter what. I like to get a base tan, then before the cruise top it off with a spray on tan. The real tan sort of hides any streaks from the spray on stuff.

One thing about the spray on tans. I would recommend doing it at least a couple days before the cruise. Sometimes they leave you a little streaky, and if it's bad at least that buys you a couple days for it to fade a bit.

 

[TeresaMc]

A tan is your bodies natural defense against UV rays......no UV is good for you but if you have controlled moderate exposure you will build that natural defense and will be able to stay in the sun longer without burning. And as far as the beds being worse that the real sun....absolutely WRONG....they both emit the exact same stuff UVA & UVB. The problem with the sun is that you cannot control the does, such things as lenght of time, smog, clouds, location of the sun, time of day etc are all variable therefore you have no idea how many MED's(minimal eyrthmal dose) of UV you get where the beds your time is very controlled as are the conditions are constant.

I do not try to sell anybody and anything......I preach moderation and good skin care. We do not even let ANYONE tan everyday, everyother is more than enough. We make clients start at very low tanning times and work their way up by 1-2 minute increases. We require FDA approved eyeprotection every visit. Granted there are alot of "turn and burns" that just want your money but not all. We have a very reputable business and saftey is our primary concern.

 

[DancingBear]

The American Academy of Dermatology heavily discourages tanning bed use:

http://www.aad.org/public/Publications/pamphlets/DarkerSideTanning.htm

 

[suzannef]

Kathy
I don't think you were harsh at all, just being honest and sharing your experience. I wish I could say I haven't tanned or worshiped the sun, but I too am guilty. How did you notice your spots if you don't mind me asking?

Suzanne

 

[suesings]

I debated telling my story but decided I should.

I was a life long tanner. There are no pictures of me in the summer while in my 20's and 30's without a tan. I laid in the sun as well as used tanning booths in the summer months (which I must admit were SO relaxing to me).

Well two years ago (a week after my 40th birthday) I noticed a tiny, tiny little mole on my right side calf. I decided to get it checked out because I had nicked it shaving. Well I found out it was Stage II Melanoma. It was the smallest thing in the world, no one would have ever noticed it unless I showed them. Immediately they sent me to Stanford Hospital to have it removed and also to remove the lymphoids in my groin. I ended up with 20 staples in my calf, a big chunk taken out and 4 lymphoids removed from my groin. I call my calf scar the Shark Bite. They take out a big chunk because most of the cancer is below the surface.

I know how wonderful laying out is, believe me I miss it but now I just go to a spa and get the Bronzer special where they apply it and I keep it up at home as much as I can (especially arms and legs).

So, please, please be careful. I don't want to scare everyone, just make people aware that it does happen.

Take care,
Sue

 

[suzannef]

Sue
What color was the mole? black, brownish, flesh colored? Thanks for sharing your story I hope thats the end of it for you.

tia
Suzanne

 

[NYDisneyMom]

How long does the spray on tan last? will it last 8 days? I've thought about getting that, but hated to pay for it if it washes off quickly...

It will last about a week...and it doesn't wash off, it eventually fades. some people have said that chlorine in pools takes it off, but I don't know, I didn't go in the pool. It didn't come off in the ocean water. You must still use a sunscreen though with the spray on!

 

[suesings]

Hi,
It was brownish in color and very tiny. It was raised so I nicked it with the razor. My dermatogist thought it would turn out to be nothing, as did I. Huge surprise to both of us. It didn't really look like those photos you see on the walls in the dermatolgists office.

It was kind of funny though because when I went to Stanford Hospital for my surgery, the anastesiolgist, the nurses, everybody was asking me what it looked like. I figured they all knew what they looked like (remember mine had been removed for testing already so all I had at that point to show them was a tiny 1/8" scar if even that before the big surgery. The hospital staff were all telling or showing me this mole or that and asking if it had looked like this or that. One good thing that happened from mine was many coworkers went to get exams and one even found a basal cell on her scalp.

Sue

 

[cntkg1]

I agree with LittleMuffin....

I too was diagnosed with skin cancer last winter. I got the same "balling out" from my dermatologist as she did. Mine was Basal Cell Carcinoma too and then he found a sqaumos on my chest. I vowed I would never go to a tanning booth again. I was told mine came from a long long time ago when I was young and foolish and tanned using baby oil and iodine!! I also don't remember ever having a horrible burn either. I too am blue eyed and have fair skin that burns easily but turns into a tan after that. I rarely peel.

I hate the thought of white legs and am thinking about a spray myself. No tanning for this lady again. Already bought my spf 15 for the cruise.

FYI>>>>My Dr. told me that spf 15 was the only thing I needed because anything with a higher spf was only a marketing gimick. He also suggested using "Water Babies".

Just giving my 2 cents worth....

Nancy

 

[suesings]

I use Water Babies. I really like the texture and it works great!

 

[Twinklee]

Boy, I started one little thread before I left for work this morning, only check in this evening to find out I created a monster. LOL Thanks for all the replys and the info about skin cancer. I've never been one for laying out in the sun and only want a little base tan for the cruise, so I'm not going to worry about skin cancer. I'll probably never use a tanning bed again.....unless we get lucky enough to be able to afford another cruise. I'm a little worried about getting burned easily because of the meds I take, but not enough to not tan. We'll be in the sun a lot while we're on the cruise, so I figure I'm better off with some color, and hopefully some protection from the sun, then going to the beach with none at all.

Toni

 

[littlemuffin]

The places that I have had all vary. Alot of them are about the size of an eraser and just pink or red. Some look like clear raised moles. Others are scaly and white - kind of like a scar.

I have one thing to add. To all who say they will just do it in moderation. That is all that I ever did. Even less than moderate tanning exposure. My only real tanning time was through vacation time and the tanning bed several weeks before.

I am not saying don't get the sun exposure. Just be VERY careful about the tanning beds-this is where the true danger lies. According to my dermatologists, I have little or no "sun" damage on my skin other that these basal cells which shows how moderately I was exposed.

I'm now getting off my soap box.

Kat