Aibu to use sunbeds instead of fake tan?

In answer to the previous poster, I would never sunbathe on holiday or in the U.K. after having had melanoma. My cancer nurse told me sunbathing isn’t really safe for anyone. I always wear sunscreen on my face and arms in the summer and tend to cover up my shoulders. Very helpful for avoiding wrinkles too!

Don't do it.
I used sunbeds years ago to get a tan before my wedding. Now have a basal cell carcinoma (BCC) to deal with, who knows if the sunbed played a part but it certainly raises the risk.

Please don’t use sunbeds. They aren’t safe for anyone. I had a melanoma because of sunbed use and have to go for check ups for the rest of my life. My use wasn’t heavy either, just top ups to look “healthy”

I do use factor 30-50, stay in the shade, have a light cover up and try to be inside for when the sun is at its strongest.

Yes, I have tanned naturally even with sun screen. However, getting a tan is in no way my aim when on holiday. I am not in the sun purposefully to tan.

I still wouldn't purposefully lay under a sunbed, with its known risks, just to get a tan.

Does the increased risk of cancer make you feel a lot better though?

I've no idea why they are even permitted anymore, let alone,one why people would choose to use them.

I don't sunbathe - used to use sunbeds as a naive idiot on my 20s.

I now wear a broad brimmed hat in summer, and my face and neck and chest have factor 50 on every single day - even in winter.

I use everyday tan in summer.

Luckily so far no skin cancer and good skin (47) but I still kick myself for being an idiot in my 20s.

I am very fair with freckles, blue eyes, pinky undertones skin that burns before any ( light ) tan . I'm simply not designed for the sun .

No, Australia is leading the world in melanoma research. THAT’S the reason.

It does age the skin, obviously. I smoke and had a perma-tan from the age of 25 to 50. My face is a hundred times more wrinkly than my sun-shunning sister's, who stopped smoking in her twenties.

I'm nearly 70. I don't give a shit about 'youthful' skin, what's the point?

Actually, I used to work with someone who was prescribed UV treatments for psoriasis. How does that square up? I mean, I assume he wasn’t going to the sunbed shop but was still prescribed the treatment by his doctor.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll be well aware that using sun beds increases your risk of skin cancer (and, like all sun damage, will prematurely age the appearance of your skin). So if you’re happy with that, you’re a grown woman and can do what you like.

Bizarre way of ‘focusing on yourself’ though if you ask me. For most people that would mean making choices that protect their health and well-being, not doing things that increase their risk of developing cancer…

Don't 'focus on yourself' by putting your health at risk.

It never ceases to amaze me that when people want to look better they do things which are actively bad for them instead of nurturing their bodies and making themselves healthier.

It's not just the tan, either. A hefty dose of UV improves my sense of well-being no end. I was a MUCH happier, more easy-going, more outgoing person when I lived in the tropics and was on the beach for a few hours every day.

I've got SAD lamps - two huge ones and a small one! They're better than nothing, but nowhere near as uplifting as the sun or a sunbed.

It's a trade-off between potential melanoma and better mental health. Tough call, ime.

Why would you want to risk your health that way? Same with surgery, it’s so obvious when someone’s had surgery and it never looks good.

While I'm pale/brunette, I could definitely develop a nice tan over a few weeks, and would feel great, definitely suited me. Unfortunately, in my mid 20s - knowing I have sensitive skin but being an idiot - had a single tanning bed session and developed Polymorphic Light Eruption Syndrome. Meaning I had given myself a life long allergy to UVB rays, coming out in red angry bumps/rash on any skin exposed to the sun after a long time without it, e.g Spring/early Summer. It generally recedes in severity over the summer, but it is a yearly occurrence and I can never quite tell how little of some generally not very hot sun will affect me. I'm now in my 50s and it's still a total PAIN IN THE ARSE honestly, wish I had listened to the angel on my shoulder that day

I guess you can, it’s just like smoking isn’t it, it’s your life it’s your cancer (it’s your reconstructed face post operation, as a few people have explained)
it’s a shame it’s not banned though to protect people who think like this. ‘Oh but it’s pretty’

I think you will find they are banned because they are considered dangerous. Nothing whatsoever to do with the climate. I'm in NZ and our risk of sunburn is extremely high and yet they aren't banned here (they should be).

What has the climate got to do with sunbeds? If you think melanoma doesn't exist in the UK then maybe read some of the posts on this thread.

Exactly - who cares about stretch marks???

6 pages of people saying don't risk it, and you're still trying to justify it.

So, go for it hun! Get your boobs done and your teeth and cover up those icky stretchmarks! You will look so hot hun! All these bitches are just jealous!

🙄🙄🙄

My psoriasis says thanks, Paps.

The best version of yourself definitely won’t be the one with skin cancer.

Honesty, no one else will care about/even notice your stretch marks.

Whatever you say Gary 😂😂

No they shouldn't.

Over to you.

Yes and …. ?

Should also be banned here in the UK too.

They do increase the risk of melanoma. I agree. But that risk is far higher in Australia to begin with. That's why they are banned there.