Tanning- give me your thoughts

didnt see this..but i definitely agree!! You can get cancer from a cell phone now adays they are saying..i dont see people throwing their phones out the window though.:huh:

I get your point, if we cut out everything that was bad for us we'd have nothing left, right? Skin cancer is just really common among people who tan or go to tanning booths. I grew up in Florida and have had skin cancer. Thank goodness it was caught early. I've also since had all my moles removed since then just to be sure.

All of us 'white folk' look better with a little color, but I definitely regret it now, at 38. I'm not so sexy with my skin cancer and mole removal scars now!

When I was younger and spent the majority of my summers in my Aunt's pool, I browned like a nut. I'm super pale these days because a lot of what I do is inside.

On natural tanning, I think it's fine if you do it in moderation and use sunscreen or some cream that will protect your skin from the bad stuff when you're doing it. It takes longer, but it's an excuse to nap in the warm sun. Tanning beds I don't condone. They are worse for your skin and I rarely see natural looking results from them. It may be convenient but so is fast food and look what it's done to people. Spray tans to me are too orange, but I guess those are the ones that do it from home.

feels good warming up on a cold day \m/
.....the end

I am Casper's cousin...and have been for years and years. Until November last year when I began using a tanning salon to help build a good base tan before a vacation to Florida. I went for short periods of time at first - 5 mins, 8 mins, 10 mins...and built my way up slowly every other day or every few days. I never burned, not once. When I got back from FL I decided I really liked being not-pasty...so I continued going to the salon once a week for 9-15 mins. I'm not dark, not by any means, but at least my skin tone looks healthy and not as pale and sickly. I like in Michigan...so we get very little sunlight in the winter months. I've justified my once a week sessions because I'm also getting a dose of Vitamin D when I go (and have avoided getting SAD this winter!).
Also, from what I understand, there is a difference in the levels of the beds. Level 1 has mostly (if not all) UVA bulbs and that is what produces the melanin (and you are most likely to burn in this process if you don't go at it slowly). Level 2 bulbs tend to have half UVA and half UVB bulbs (UVB are more "bronzing" bulbs, as it has been explained to me). Level 3 is all bronzing bulbs. So I'm the impression that once you get a good base tan...sticking with level 3 might be the way to go to minimize UVA exposure. But I could be totally wrong here.

I, too, worry a little about skin cancer. But I have never been big on tanning (either in the sun or beds) so I haven't been overly exposed. I also think that a large part of the skin cancer problem today comes from the sunscreen people use. Because as it was...back in the day...skin cancer wasn't nearly as prominent as it is TODAY....and "back then" people didn't use sunscreens. They were out in the sun all day working their farms and fields. Maybe that's ignorant to say...but c'mon...really think about it.

We're all gonna die from something...a kiss of sun every now and then can't be any worse than all the chemicals we consume in our food.

My thoughts on tanning? Wrinkles and cancer! No thank-you! Unfortunately my daughters don't feel the same way. ;(

VersaSpa Tan!! I do hop in a bed starting a couple of months before summer, but that is just on occasion. VersaSpa is the best spray tan I've ever had. You just have to make sure you exfoliate before you go, shave (whatever you usually shave that is), do not put any lotion on, and follow the directions the salon gives you. They have light clear, medium clear, and dark clear, as well as light bronze, medium bronze, and dark bronze (bronze shows up more instantly than clear but also rubs off on clothing easier right after you get it done, so make sure to wear dark colors). I get tons of compliments on my (spray) tan and it's worth it, since I am a very pale/blue eyed/blonde and don't want to risk burning or cancer. Hope this helps!

I used to 'fake 'n bake' (tanning bed), but NO MORE! I've seen too many women develop skin cancer and end up with the leather skin and it's just not worth it. If I can't get the desired tan (which I usually do) from the sun, I'll just be white! I have a natural olive complexion and native american in me, so I'm never "white". All I have to do is go lay on the trampoline for an hour or so and I tan fast. To amp up the tan, I will sometimes use baby oil. Another trick is oil sheen (African American Hair Spray), it works great too and makes your skin smooth!

so tanning beds cause wrinkles and cancer but baby oil doesn't?!?!

Hello all!

I have really pale skin and have avoided the sun for the past 6-7 years as I get very very dark and have a birthmark on my legs which doesn't hold color. When I'm very pale like right now you cannot see it at all. That aside... I've noticed I look less "glowing" "healthy" and actually look sick. Actually ive been told i look like someone who has a flu in pictures.

I've also noticed you cannot see the muscle definition I have and I just look "chunky" compared to someone the same size as me who has more color.

I DO NOT want skin cancer and know that ANY amount of tanning can put you at risk.

What are your thoughts on tanning/fake tanning? Do you look slimmer/healthier with a tan? Do you tan? If so why/why not?

As much as it pains me to say it DON'T FAKE AND BAKE. There is so much science behind how dangerous it is, it isn't even funny. I used to work at a tanning salon in college, and I can see the damage already and I'm only 32. I'm pale and blond and look 5000% better with a tan, but it just isn't worth it long term. Spray tan, or Jergen's at home tanning cream etc is your best bet. :-)

I love the way I look tan. I used to tan as a teenager, that is, until my dad at age 38 developed melanoma. He almost made it to the magical "5 year mark" and then went downhill fast and died at age 43. Trust me, he was not a tanning bed kinda guy so he got it just from being out and working in the sun. I have dark hair and eyes but pale skin. I also have about 20 small scars from having various moles removed that I just didn't want there. They've all been normal so far, thank God. Bottom line is, the way he died was horrible and I wish that on no one. If you want color, spray it!!!

I am a fair skinned lady and I am not for the sun never have been but lately I have been doing the Mystic spray tan and OMG I love it when i look in the mirror i am like nice you pretty girl.. i love that I am tanner for some reason it makes me feel better try the mystic it last 5-7 days and you don't look like am ummpa loompa lol I was so scared of that but I love it... plus it is 90 seconds and tans you every where and I love that nice even tan all over with no tan lines..

smiles