Help with tanning question? Have I damaged my skin already with my first tan? I'm scared!?

Question

I'm 17, and I have never had a "tan" before. I have been going to the tanning bed since October at around 10-17 each session 3 times a week. I just am getting dark. My mom noticed how dark my legs were today. She said that I needed to lay off for a while and just go 2 times each week. (mon. & fri.) I am scared that I have damaged my skin. I have very soft and clear facial skin. I am afraid that I have ruined it. My mom assures me that just a base tan won't hurt my skin, but if I get any darker I will age faster. Is that true or not? I feel like crying. Help me!

I know tanning beds are "bad." Please don't tell me that, just tell me a solution.


sincerely,

scared tanner

Answer 1

It all has to do with what kind of tanning lotion you use i have this bottle of lotion called hot that works great. Try it and see if there is a change.

Answer 2

Any tanning in a tanning bed is bad. Weather its a base tan or an occasional tan. I worked for a dermatologist and about 95% of skin cancer cases were sun related. Now consider how much more concentrated the tanning booth is. Its like spending a week out side tanning, in one session. Direct light with no sunscreen. I have seen people who have tanned their whole life and they look like leather. A lot older than they are. My advice would be to stop now..its winter anyways..buy some of the darkening lotion that takes a week or so to start to brown you and stay out of the bed. You are young and the damage isn't visible now..but if you keep doing it it will be. My sister has watched her sun take in her whole life and this year she is turning 50. She looks amazing! Believe me, I used to tan too..but I'd never go back again..I'm 26 and after seeing the damage from the sun I know how horrible the tanning beds are. You may want to talk to a dermatologist they can tell you why they are so bad and a solution for any damage that may have been done. But really I tihnk you will be ok if you stop going now..:)

Answer 3

DON'T PANIC!!! You're OK, and you're NOT in any danger right now. If you have a good base tan, you should either leave it at that or just go a couple of times a week like your mother suggests. Or, you could go every other day for shorter sessions like 5-8 minutes per. Here's a list of things you need to watch out for and be careful of: (1) SUNBURN -- Red skin is bad, and the problem is it may not show up right away, so be sure not to overdo on the tanning bed and if you go outside use sunscreen, even if it's not particularly sunny out that day. (2) SPOTS ON YOUR SKIN -- They are normally caused by sunburn, but you can get them by spending too much time on a tanning bed too. Spots are VERY bad. They can be signs of skin cancer. If you get them, keep a close eye on them. If they get larger or appear to change shape, see a doctor right away. If you catch it in time the doctor can remove it without any long-term bad effects. (3) LONG-TERM EXPOSURE -- It's true that doing too much tanning when you're young can cause your skin to age faster. That being said, however, it's sunburns and excessive tanning that causes premature aging. The best things you can do to prevent that are to drink plenty of water (at least half a gallon a day) and use moisturizer on your skin often.

So relax, be happy, and just be careful.

Answer 4

Experts suggest that the majority of damage to your skin by UV rays is done by the age of 18.
Yes, tanning beds are bad. Yes, over exposure can lead to premature aging of the skin. Yes, it can also lead to skin cancer.
You are exposed to UV rays everyday by simply going outside. However, the sun is also a great source of vitamin D.
The idea is to limit your exposure. Using a lotion with a UV blocker, regardless of season, can also be a good idea.
The upside is that it doesn't sound as though you have been doing this very long.
Nothing will prevent the aging of skin. We will all get older and there is no way to avoid it unless you want to live in a dark bubble your whole life.
Just try to cut down on the frequency of use as far as the tanning bed thing goes.

Answer 5

If you were born with pale skin, it will always revert back to pale if you avoid the sun, and tanning beds. No permanent damage will be done unless you spend years and years in the sun/tanning beds...so youre good. Just use a self-tanner...or get 'sprayed" with a pigment, that washes off/fades away. Stop tanning until your legs get back to a normal color, and then use the self tanner...its cheaper and works better. If you really want a foolproof and safe way to tan, then just get the color done professionally. Celebrities opt for self tanning lotions/creams. Jergens has a lovely tanning product, among others.

Answer 6

The med school guy is wrong. It doesn't take years. You can damange your skin by the heat of the tanning bed. It can toast your skin and it only takes a few sessions. My advise is to lay off the tanning bed and only tan naturally. If you are stuborn and do continue to tan. Do not put oils on your skin and spray your skin with water at least to keep your skin cool after.

Answer 7

Don't worry! Skin grows back...BUT if you are worried about damaging your skin you shouldn't lay out at all. The UV rays are terrible, and your skin will look wrinkly when you get older. It also causes more moles and your skin to appear leathery, if you lay out too much. The sun is very good for your skin, but only in moderation, I wouldn't over do it like it seems you are now. You also need to watch what kind of sun tan lotion you are putting on, some makes you bronze then others.

If you start watching how you treat your skin now, your skin will be good to you when you get older.

Check out the link I provided for "tan"...good luck!

Answer 8

right dont panic you are young and your skin will recover if u stop using a sunbed theres nothing wrong with being pale u know and theres great fake tans available if u cant bear not having a tan use a good factor sunscreen in the sun and dont overdo it and use a moisturizer with a sunscreen for your face all year round u dont want to look like a saddlebag with eyes when your 40. lol

Answer 9

umm obviously tanning beds are going to damage your skin and make you age faster just like the sun would. and they cause skin cancer!! woo hoo!! they are probably worse for you than the sun. your solution would be to stop tanning, or put a towel over your face while your tanning, or put sunscreen only on your face before tanning. TA DAH!!!!

Answer 10

You haven't done any harm...yet, but keep it up and your skin will age faster...losing elasticity and wrinkling...and you will be more susceptible to scaley growths and skin cancer. At 17 it will take years to damage your skin, but why become a "tan junkie" and go through life with that hanging over your head?