Tanning Beds! Ack!?

Question

I'm naturally an ivory skin color from my mom's Italian side of the family. I wouldn't say I tan 'easily' but I wouldn't say that I don't tan at all. So I was considering going to the tanning beds. Can I really get a nice looking tan without over doing it? How does it all work? And..my body isn't the greatest, but I'm pretty sure that has nothing to do with it. And how often should I visit tanning beds? I'd like to stay away from skin cancer thank you ;O

Answer 1

I did a study on tanning beds and sitting under the sun after my mother died of Melenoma skin cancer. She had brown hair, brown eyes and had Indian in her. She use to get burned from the sun while picking blueberries and the burn would blister on her shoulders. She would wear tank tops. She died at the age of 55 Seven years ago this month.

My sister who is in her 30's was also diagnosed with skin cancer a couple of years ago, but it was the Basil Cell. They believe they got all of hers. She never laid out in the sun either. She is brown haired and brown eyed also. I am blond with blue eyes and I have my skin checked yearly by a dermatologist. I have been burnt in my teen years a few times by the sun. Just by being out. I can burn in the shade.

The study I did, I found that tanning beds are actually worse than the sun because it is more concentrated than the sun.

Laying the tanning bed for 30 minutes is equivilant to laying in the sun for 8 hours.

Your skin has the best chance of getting the cancer if you burn while you are younger. The more melanin you have in your skin the better. Unfortunately, I do not have much.

Your skin will always stay younger if you do not attempt to tan either by the sun or the tanning beds. I prefer the fake tans that you can spray on or rub on. They have some very good ones nowadays that look very natural and will not harm you. Most tanning beds have the Mystical Tan which is a spray on you can check into.

They say the new bulbs in the tanning beds are better and don't cause it, but why chance it? They always find something later that causes cancer in most things.

Ultimately it is your decision. I would encourage a fake tan that looks natural. If you watch Dancing with the Stars,,,,,, they do the spray on tans and they look pretty much like they lay out.

Answer 2

Well you need to get a base tan first then once you are at the color you want you can cut back on your visits to maintain the tan. To get a base tan you will need to go 2 or 3 times a week. You should work up to the time limit for the bed for the first couple of times you go. Do not try to lay the full time your first time. After you get the color you want you you can cut back to 1 or 2 times a week. I usually lay a few times in the regular and then go to the stand up bed. This helps even everything out.

You also need to get a good tanning lotion. The best ones you can buy at the tanning salon. The more expensive the better. Be sure to also keep your skin moisturized by apply regular lotion once or twice a day. This will help you skin tan and keep a tan.

If you have any questions you should ask the girls at the tanning salon, they usually are very helpful.

Happy Tanning!

Answer 3

I naturally have an ivory skin tone, and for a while I was thinking about using tanning beds. After a while though, I realized that the tanning beds turn you oranger than self tanners, and I don't want to ruin my skin because tanning beds will increase your risk of skin cancer even if you only go once a week to keep your color. You're better off with a sunless tanner like Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer for medium skin tones (it'll get you the color you want faster). It looks so natural. I use it, and people are always telling me my tan looks amazing! Good luck with getting your tan though (hopefully safely)!

Answer 4

All I can say is that ivory skin is pretty, and that naturally tanning has less intense UVA and UVB rays. Tanning beds often use a higher amount of each ray, which causes ultraviolet radiation, which isn't good for your skin. I would say don't use tanning beds. You'll get into the habit and your skin will lose its elasticity sooner. Besides, they make you orange if you use them a lot, and it's hardly noticeable if you use them a little, just radiation for nothing. Tan outside, just make sure you protect your ivory skin with SPF 30 or higher every time.

Answer 5

tanning beds are great ways to get that sunkissed look you want--but NOT OFTEN AT ALL!!!!! only on occasions and special times should you get them. they WILL give you skin cancer if you use them too often, but if you go wisely and dont go all the time, you'll be fine. also, if you dont want to do the tanning beds, many make-up lines and skin care lines have a self tanning sunscreen and self tanner you can put on for very temporary use. some of them are pretty good, but MAKE SURE THEY DRY or they will make everything you touch orange!! trust me! I think natural tans look better and more, well, natural. i would go w/ that. summer is not far away, but if you want it now, id say hit the tanning beds. hope this helps ♥

Answer 6

I will try to explain the way I learned when I started tanning. Tanning beds are made with ultraviolet lights. The maximum bed is 20 minutes, people think that that is the best bed because it is the longest but it is actually low intensity so it takes longer to tan. A bed that is 10 or 12 minutes long is high intensity so you tan quicker because the uv's are stronger. For a beginner I would say you should start with the 20 minute bed to get familiar. You want to start out tanning every 3 days for 5min the first day then maybe 8 then to 12, to 18 then to 20. Start slow, tanning gets addicting the first day and you want to just stay in there the full time the second day because you get excited. You will burn if you dont go slow, I am also Italian and I tan the same way you do but burn easy in tanning beds. You want to you a lotion for indoor tanning. The outdoor ones WILL NOT work. You can get them for WAY less at a beauty salon store like Sally's. I always go in there naked but you could leave on your bra and panties you will just have tanning lines. After you get the tan that you like and feel comfortable with you want to go only 2 times a week to keep it up. Just have a nice based tan, dont risk yourself of getting cancer, having leather skin or an orange color to your body. Make sure to take of jewlery because you will be spotted:) Put your hair up, you dont want damage. I would recommend you take off your makeup as well because your makeup has SPF (hopefully) in it and your face will not tan. For me I didnt want to tan my face only because tanning causes wrinkles to form early so I would go tanning with my makeup on (much easier) and cover my face with a towel. You can always use like Neutogena tinted moisterizer to give your face a matching glow. Also its fun to use a lotion like Olay touch of sun for added glimmer on normal days or after tanning. Tanning does have some plusses...if you have acne or just blemishes once in a while, tanning wil get rid of it, it is a proven fact as well as eczema and a few other things you can look up. It is normal to sweat...just use the towel to wipe your body down. Also, always wear the protected sunwear, you will damage your eyesight if you dont. Eventually if you really get into tanning you could start using high frequency and go in for like 8-10 min once a week. Good Luck, hope I helped a little.

Answer 7

I think instead of going to a tanning bed, you should get a self-tanner and gradually build a tan, rather than having a tan that looks un-natural with your skin tone & features. Plus, you can stop applying the tanner when you find a tan "shade" for you! Or, you could get a tan naturally, and get a pretty glow too!

Answer 8

I am white and pale as a ghost. When I tanned I had to go daily for the first few weeks to get any color. I started out burned. Start slow but keep at it. To be honest if you don't tan well don't waste your money. I spend hundreds of dollars between tanning beds and lotions and when I stopped in Fall I lost all my color in a matter of weeks. Then pale again. Just do what I do now get natural sun and swim.

Answer 9

Tanning beds are a sure fire way to get skin cancer. Your best bet is to Mystic tan, they offer this at many tanning salons. You go inisde of a stand-up booth with spray nozzles that are to your left and right. When it starts to spray you , lift your arms and legs to get an even "tan" your under arms and any creases. Another option is airbrush tan where you strip down and wear this disposable thong and one person airbrushes you, its kind of awkward but this will be the most natural looking tan becuase they find the right tan for your skin tone.

Answer 10

Just because you are ivory doesn't mean you cant go tanning. It isn't bad if you know what you are doing, I would go every other day, start out doing the min. time available. And don't forget to use tanning cream, and don't go for the cheap stuff if you want a good tan and the best protecting cream you are going to have to spend money.