Please remind me about sun beds...

[cutspujumas]

I have pale skin. I don't burn easily but I don't tan either. My face is the worst, it never goes brown. When I got married years ago I wanted to be a nice light honey colour. For three months before I went on a sun bed for 2 mins working up to 5 mins every three days. I had a "base tan" by the time I went away (we married abroad) and then I sunbathed when I got to the Mediterranean and I was a perfect shade of very very light brown for my wedding.

That's the only time I've ever done it, or that I've ever had a tan and I remember it making me feel really good, both psychologically and physically from the vitamin D.

I want to do it again as I am just so pale and so depleted, but I know how awful sun beds are.

If I was to go for 2 mins every three or four days, for a month, would that be so bad? What if I covered my face and kept an eye on my moles?

I've tried fake tan but it doesn't last, makes me smell (and sweat) and comes off in patches.

[KoalaDownUnder]

Sorry, but I can't sed sunbeds as a good thing under any circumstances. I'm actually surprised they haven't been banned yet.

Get a spray tan at a salon, or buy good quality fake tan and exfoliate/moisturise leading up to using it.

[NewBallsPlease00]

Think about how dry and damaged your hair gets from the sun... That's actually what happens to your skin too but the moisturisers etc disguise it well... I'd leave well alone personally.

[villainousbroodmare]

Try Vita Liberata fake tan. They all smell but so much better than a sunbed.

[Eastpoint]

I'd recommend Vita Liberata too - I've only used their gradual tan and it is really good.

[Scarydinosaurs]

Try different fake spray tans.

[ninjapants]

Fake it don't bake it.
It's not worth the risk. I've had malignant melanoma though I have never been sun bed user or sun worshipper. I now have a big scar where it was cut out.
Try using one of those tinted moisturisers that builds up a colour if you don't want to use proper fake tan. Or you could just learn to love the skin you have.
I've no idea why sun beds aren't regulated at least, and their use restricted.

[Pisssssedofff]

Sun beds have been banned all over Australia. Not good, the wrinkles I have are down to sunbeds because I've used sunscreen every day since 15 except that one period when I went every other day to the sunbed shop over the road from work, about 3 months

[greatbigwho]

Think how powerful it must be to give you the kind of tan that takes weeks to achieve naturally. If you're after vitamin D, take a supplement, get outside. Don't subject yourself to intense cancer causing rays every couple of days.

[buttonpossum]

They are illegal in the country olive in because of the high risk of skin cancer.

[buttonpossum]

Sorry typo I live

[marmiteloversunite]

I recently had to go to a skin clinic at my local hospital. I was shocked by how many older people were having moles etc removed from their faces/heads. Now I am sure that they had not been on sun beds but just out and about in the sun during their lives. Just think how many more will be in there in future years because of sun beds.

[TheHubblesWindscreenWipers]

I'm a scientist who has worked in cancer research, on melanoma trials etc.

do not use sunbeds. They are horrendously dangerous and frankly they should be banned. Even low usage increases your risk of skin cancer. I'm appalled they are still legal.
Sun exposure/uv exposure damages your skin. As well as the upped cancer risk It ages you, gives you wrinkles and age spots... 2 mins every three or four days is a lot. Don't do it.

I'm in my late thirties now and in my peer group you can really tell who the smokers and tanners are because they look ten years older.

Tanning is for handbags. Be pale! What's wrong with pale? Why do people want to change their skin colour? You are what you are, embrace it.

If you absolutely must be tanned, use a good fake tan. No there aren't any that don't smell - the ingredient that works is the bit that smells.

[fruitatthebottom]

As someone who is in her late thirties who had to have a lesion excised last year (never used a sunbed and not particularly pale and have always been sun sensible) I can't honestly understand why people can't take the risks of sunbeds seriously. There are lots of good fake tans out there and prior to going on holiday why not go to a salon and have a good spray tan? I would equivalate sun bed use to having unnecessary X-rays and that is essentially what it is in terms of radiation - the risks are real and skin cancer can and does happen to anyone, not always the 'high risk' groups. Stay safe OP and step away from the sun bed!

[Fuzzypeggy]

Don't use sun beds, so bad for you!

[pinkieandperkie]

Having had a basal cell carcinoma cut out of me I then decided that pale was good.

[cutspujumas]

Thank you - you have reminded me! No sunbeds for me!

[TheHubblesWindscreenWipers]

Good!

Also you say you feel depleted- that's not the same as being pale. Are you unwell? Run down? Might be an idea to have a few bloods done to see if you're deficient in anything or if there's anything awry.

[flumpybear]

I have very pale skin but have got better at tanning over the years, so now have a light tan when I go away - I'd never do sunned a having been privy to performing experiments on cellular DNA with UV light sources and seeing the damage not repaired by the normal excision repair process

[FrustratedFrugal]

I've lived in very sunny places for a decade (doing my best to protect myself there with hats, coverups and sunscreen). I developed a precancerous patch on my upper lip last year. A dermatologist removed it. The area healed and it has not grown back. But it was a really scary experience. Don't risk it!

[pollyglot]

Where I live, the rate of skin cancer is astronomical. Women over 40 generally have wrinkles and brown patches typical of a much older person of previous generations. Granny (red-haired English immigrant, born 1889), had exquisite English Rose skin in her 80s, owing to wearing a hat every day and my 30yo DD also, as I made her wear sunscreen and hats. Everyone comments on my DD's complexion -real peaches and cream in a city of over-bronzed wrinklies. What is so wrong with embracing that beautiful pale skin so prized elsewhere? What IS this obsession with being brown?

[maza22]

Fake bake false tan is fantastic wish i'd found it years ago

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

Final Destination 3.
That's all I'm going to say

[JenLindleyShitMom]

OP I posted a similar thread few weeks ago and got loads of fake tan recommendations. This is one I tried and it is brilliant. You wash it off after 3 hours and it continues to develop for 8 hours. No smell!!

[maza22]

Typical i've just bulk bought fake bake hubby doesn't comment when i wear it....doesn't comment when i sport a new hairdo.....but wear fake tan that looks fake brings me down like a hammer i'll try your recomendation next... what's it like on your face? I cleanse tone,moisturizer 2× daily is it o.k with this?