Is tanning really so terrible?

Question

Everytime I tan I feel better about myself,it relaxes my body and it pretty much clears all acne up.Also makes my body look more toned and attractive to me.Which when I use the spray tan,or tan in the can I really dont feel so good about my body and do not get any of the results I would get from tanning.

Answer 1

Sunshine/ verses/ chemicals? Lets see, Natural sunshine verses, sunscreens, I'll take the vitamins in Sunshine, any day of the week.......Just limit, your tanning too 1/2 hour, a day or 1 hour a day, instead of too much of anything isn't good for any of us..You know. Those chemicals, in sunscreens sell so much more than they should, you know........They go directly into our bloodstream. Just like anything else we put on our skin.. And, they are so strong , you cant even get a tan, just imagine whats in them, that they can keep something as "Mighty" as the sun, off of our skin !!! Kind of scary, if you ask me....I have never used it in my whole life....And, in my "Younger years" I was a sun worshipper, I just dont stay in the sun, as much as I use to now...But, the sun not only makes us "Happy", but, its loaded with vitamins......My kids always grew an inch, it seemed during the summers.........Thats how Powerful, & Mighty our Sun,is...I dont care what these people say about all the "Harmful" things the sun does to us !!! I find it very stimulating, and very much a Wonderful light source, for good !!! You just keep on doing what your doing Hun!!! Enjoy it as much as you can, and just turn the other ear,about all those "Paranoid" people's opinions about the sun !!! Its very Healthy, for us all !!! Just not too much, is all ........Just be sensible, about, your laying out time... Have Fun, Smile !!!

Answer 2

I'm going to disagree with everyone who has responded thus far--somewhat.

Generally, tanning is like anything else--if done in MODERATION it can be done with little to no harm to you. Whether you are ultimately harmed by tanning (skin cancer, wrinkles, premature aging etc.) mostly depends on how much melanin you have in your skin. For instance, if you're a fair-skinned teen and you are tanning everyday, you are doomed--and quickly--and you won't have to wait to become 30 to experience the harm. However, if you are an olive-skinned person, you are far less likely to see harm, if at all, until you are in your 30s and 40s, and only if you tan excessively.

Anyway, in my view, if you are an olive-skinned person, I think you can tan once a week during the offseason (i.e. spring, fall and winter), and then a couple days a week on the beach in the summer without much, if any, harm. If you are fair-skinned person, I'd use protection all of the time and wouldn't tan OR I'd be very cautious when doing so.

Answer 3

Well, you are in serious danger of getting skin cancer. The most serious and dangerous form of skin cancer is caused by tanning. You may feel that you look attractive, but you are not doing your body any favors.

Your body (especially your face) will show wrinkles sooner. I have a member of family who loves tanning too. She is out in the sun as soon as it gets warm. She looks 10 years older. This could happen to you, too.

If you want to feel good about yourself and your body, you may want to seek out some counseling. You are a good and decent person. You don't need to be tanned to feel this way.

Please consult a dermatologist about the best ways to keep from getting skin cancer and perhaps use tanning safely (if there is such a way)

Answer 4

I totally know how you feel! I've always loved getting brown in the summer, but then my grandmother told me her story. She had skin cancer, and her father died of skin cancer, so it runs in my family, even though we don't have pale skin. Tanning isn't the part that's really bad for you; it's the UV rays from the sun. So just find a sunscreen that protects from UV rays and you'll be less likely to get skin cancer, but can still get a tan. Also, don't tan excessively; If your skin looks like leather you've probably tanned too much.

Answer 5

Yes. Some studies have also shown that it might be addictive. Is it really worth thousands of dollars later in life when you have skin cancer? Is it really worth looking very leathery and having lots of spots later in life? It's society that makes you think that tanning makes you beautiful. If you went somewhere like India you'd find that pale skin is most desired and considered very beautiful. Learn to be happy with your skin the way it is and ignore the parts of society that tell you tan is beautiful.

Answer 6

I'm the same way, but yes we are ruining our skin, and we will wrinkle faster and our skin will thicken... yuck! I use a major sunsceen (40-55), which sounds stupid, but I FEEL better when I go. And I only go 3-4 times a month, other than that I use the jergans lotion with a little bit of self tanner to maintain the color...
So, I do understand what your saying, but just be careful!

Answer 7

Yes, it is very bad for you. You should try getting a facial or a massage instead of going tanning. It can lead to skin cancer, as well as early aging for you, which means wrinkles at an earlier age. Use a self tanner instead.

Answer 8

Tanning is not good for your skin.
Your chances of skin cancer grow exponentially with the amount of time you spend tanning. In addition, tanning causes skin to age prematurely, increasing wrinkles, and the "leather" look later in life.

Answer 9

I lay on the beach regularly, but yes...it really is SO terrible...we are exposing ourselves to skin cancer and probably will eventually develop it (I'm 41 and have been sun tanning for many years)...I like the way it looks too, healthy and glowing, but damage is being done, even if we wear sunscreen...

So, for everyone who tans, they have to decide if the reward is worth the risk...the risk is very high..

Answer 10

It sounds like you are addicted to tanning. Be careful, or you pretty little body now, will change to a ugly, freckled body when you are older. Also, you could get skin cancer.