OK..... is it okay for teens to tan?

Question

I am 14 and I want to be tan. BIG problem. I don't want cancer and my mom is okay with it but my dad and step mom would go balistic if I ever asked. Is it okay for me to tan?

In a tanning bed not in the sun!

Answer 1

im 14 and i get free taning under the beds just do it but dont do it like every day just like once a month or other once every 2 to 3 months just becareful and dont stay in too long

Answer 2

Yes it's fine to get a tan but NOT on a sunbed. Those are dangerous because they give you massive doses of radiation in a short time. Also, don't use sun lotion at all. That causes cancer by making you stay out in the sun far longer than is safe for your skin. Start with short exposure times of just a few minutes and gradually build up a natural tan. Sunshine is good for you as long as you're sensible about it.

Answer 3

I'm 20 and I use the self tanner from Noxema. Works great, goes on evenly, and no health risks! I saw on tv a while back that it was the product that all the actors on baywatch used for the show. So i tried it and its great. Only like $5 a bottle which last about a month or 2. So its cheaper than a tanning bed too! If you want to tan in a bed, i would say you are too young, and risk too much exposure to the harmful rays.

Answer 4

Well i may be biased, but i saw my cousin fight skin cancer first hand. Unless you want to get surgery on your arm like she did to remove the tumor and not be able to use your right arm for sic months, then i would advise against it. A little tanning is not bad, but many teens get addicted and can cause problems for themselves down the road. While many think about looking hot in the hear and now, they dont think about the future. Tanning and burning now leads to wrinkles sun spots, and overall ugly skin when you're older. Stick with a tanning foam, you get an even tan without the health risks (and it's cheaper).

Answer 5

NO! Get a fake tan!!!

sun tans fade it wont last forever, you will have to continue exposing your skin to the suns harmful rays to keep up your tan not, only are you exposing your skin to the risk of skin cancer, but the sun will age your skin prematurely, are you faimliar with those horrible saggy necks in women, you ever seen the leather type skin in a woman who has exposed herself to the sun when she was a teen for the "fabulous tan"

Australians have the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. Each year over 1400 Australians die from this almost totally preventable disease.

Most of the more than 1 million cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer diagnosed yearly in the United States are considered to be sun-related. Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, will account for about 62,190 cases of skin cancer in 2006 and most (about 7,910) of the 10,710 deaths due to skin cancer each year

Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. It accounts for nearly half of all cancers in the United States. More than 1 million cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer are found in this country each year. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 62,190 new melanomas will be diagnosed in the United States during 2006.

Answer 6

Tanning beds are a bit safer, as they UV rays are controlled. I am not sure tanning salons let you tan underage, due to liability. You may need your mom to go with you.

however, I want to ask WHY? Is it important to be tan?
UV Rays from tanning beds or the sun cause 90% of the damage to your skin - promoting premature aging, wrinkles, loss of elasticity and melanomas. I would discourage you from wanting to tan, and learn to love the skin you have.

Answer 7

It's okay to tan - but it's not good for your skin at all.

The best and safest way to tan is to exfoliate properly and apply a spray tan, which you can buy almost anywhere nowadays.

The best thing to do though is test all the various self-tanning products and make sure the one you choose matches your skin tone.

Always test the bottom of your forearm (which is the lightest part of your arms) if it comes our orange or blotchy find another product until you get one that blends perfectly and looks even.

Good Luck!

Answer 8

The #1 cause of looking old is skin damage. A tan is your skin's reaction to too much sun... it darkens in an attempt to protect itself.

Take it from a 40 year old who can't believe she's that old already, and still feel like I'm in my 20's.... STAY OUT OF THE SUN! You will be SO GLAD you did when you hit your 30's. I know it seems like eons away, but it really isn't. It seems like I fell asleep and woke up 40!

Time marches on... right across your face!

Answer 9

Let's put it this way... at the beginning of December I lost my best friend/uncle to skin cancer... he was only 41 years old... the choice is yours, but if you must tan be smart about it and use at least some kind of sunscreen... and just check your skin every once in a while... any dark spots that show up could be a sign of cancer, always a good idea to get em checked out

Answer 10

i don't think it's a good idea to start. i began tanning when i was 16 & it's been a habit ever since (4 years now). i feel like sometimes it's my "vice" --- like my cigarette, for example. it's a money hole. you probably won't find a reason to quit because you'll love being tan so much. it's better to just sit in the sun for a good 20 minutes everyday for the natural light. it's also excellent in vitamin d, too, which is essential.

Answer 11

Facts About the Sun's Rays:

The sun produces both visible and invisible rays. Invisible rays known as ultraviolet-A (UVA) and ultraviolet-B (UVB) cause most of the problems. Both cause suntan, sunburn and sun damage. UVB is more hazardous than UVA, but there is no “safe” UV light.

Harmful UV rays are more intense in the summer, at higher altitudes and closer to the equator. Wind and reflections from water, sand and snow also increase the sun’s harmful effects. Most UV radiation reaches the earth even on cloudy days.