Tanning health effects?

Question

I have very fair skin and would like to start tanning at a salon. I've never really been tan before, so I'm not sure how easily I burn. My main concerns about tanning are the health effects. I know it's very dangerous in the long run, despite what everyone says to the contrary. In that case, I would wear sunscreen, but I suppose that would just defeat the purpose. How safe is it to go tanning with some sort of protectant? Can I even use a protectant at all? Is it just too dangerous to tan frequently? Is it expensive?

Answer 1

The dangerous part appears to be associated with getting sunburnt, not tan. Continued exposure makes your skin look older, but that won't kill you. Just be careful not to get terribly burnt.

on the good side- your body absorbs lotsa' vitamin D which thwarts many cancers.

Answer 2

It isn't very expensive, most tanning machines work out to cost you about AU $1 per minute. To start off only go for about 6 minutes and then gradually build up by 2 minutes or so until you reach 12 minutes- then stay at that time, 12 minute sessions max. I never used sunscreen when I used the tanning beds, but I always used an accelerant which would speed up the tanning process. After excessive tanning your skin will appear aged but it will take you a long time to get to that point. I tanned for 9 mins for 2 days and then had a break and then went back for another 2 days, etc. I am very fair and I stopped tanning when I reached the colour that I was happy with. Make sure that you don't use the facial part of the tanning bed- this will cause pigmentation spotting and fine lines around the eyes- the face is too sensitive to tan (if you do choose to then use a sunscreen on your face) even if you don't end up tanning your face you wont see the colour difference as everyones faces are usually naturally slightly darker than the body.

They will explain all of this to you when you go in for your first session- when you first start going wear a small v string that way after you have begun to tan you will be able to see the colour difference. Once you have begun to tan up a bit then use the bed naked so that you don't have tan lines.

Good luck

Answer 3

Well first of all tanning causes skin cancer, period.
5 minutes in a bed is = to 3 hours in broad daylight, so remember this. When I used to tan I thought that putting sunscreen would prevent skin cancer but with the equation above you can see how If a sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours than you need to get out of the bed and reapply it every two minutes! I had a scare with skin cancer from tanning at 16 years old. I'm 18 now and get just as great of tan using St. Tropez tanning mousse or getting airbrush tanned at a salon. It is a bit more expensive than tanning beds, but it lasts and you wont get skin cancer. Hope you make the right choice!

Answer 4

I too have fair skin, and so when I haven't tanned for awhile, when I do go back, I start out at about 4 or 5 minutes. If you aren't sure about that, try 3. Here is the thing-you aren't going to get as fast of results, go VERY slowly-a few minutes the first 2 times, then 5 for a few and so on-I don't care what anyone tells you-you wil get tan using a sun protectant. Tanning can be expensive if you get the fancy tanning lotions-which you may very well want after you get your base tan. And for the first few times, pay for a single session, and after that, go ahead and get a package to save money if you think you will enjoy it.

Answer 5

there are no health benefits. Even if you use sunscreen with a huge spf, you'll still get yourself prematurely aging. Its too dangerous, period. THe cancer, liver spots, aging...did you know 80% of premature aging is caused by sun damage, even if it's an artificial sun. THink of it this way. Fair and healthy skin is much more attractive than old, dull skin with brown liverpots all over.