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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to use sunbeds instead of fake tan?

184 replies

Wantachangefor2024 · 17/06/2024 18:44

As a way of focusing on myself, I’m losing weight and making myself a better version of me. Due to getting so large I have bad stretchmarks. Am I unreasonable to use sunbeds as they actually blend the stretch marks more. I find fake tan doesn’t stain the skin the same and makes them stand out more! Really trying to make an effort. Get a colour. Lose weight. Dye my hair. I’m on a mission to regain my confidence through my appearance I’m thinking once I’ve lost the weight in a year to reward myself with veneers and a breast uplift with implants. So yes to fake boobs, tanned and blonde or no stay natural, brunette and pale

OP posts:
bryceQ · 17/06/2024 19:26

I don't sunbathe as I'm vain and I wear loads of Spf as I don't want to age prematurely. I don't mind being pale.

norfolkbroadd · 17/06/2024 19:26

Wantachangefor2024 · 17/06/2024 19:13

What I will ask though and personally bugs me. Is the people who have told me off for using sunbeds. Go on four/five holidays a year and sunbathe. Sunbeds are strong but so is the midday sun in Greece. Any colour on your skin is dna damage. A tan is damage. So how many of you completely stay out of the sun?

Honest answer? People who don’t stay out of the sun are people who are stupid and ignorant of how damaging the sun can be to their skin. People who aren't able to understand things like how UVA rays penetrate the skin barrier and cause cell changes. People who value their looks above their health, then spend their later years looking like a shrivelled, puckered prune, because they wanted their moment in the sun. In short, morons.

Original poster
Wantachangefor2024 · 17/06/2024 19:24

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 17/06/2024 19:07

The gradual tanning lotion works on mine. They are barely noticeable.

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I shall try gradual thanks xx

OP posts:
betterangels · 17/06/2024 19:24

ShrinkingEveryDay · 17/06/2024 19:22

Me. I stay out of the sun. I had a basal cell carcinoma removed from my face two years ago. It involved 3 stressful and unpleasant operations to try and rebuild my face and I still don’t recognise myself in the mirror. Please take the warnings seriously 😢

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I'm really sorry to read that Flowers

Original poster
Wantachangefor2024 · 17/06/2024 19:24

NeverDropYourMooncup · 17/06/2024 19:19

Stretchmarks can't tan. You'd just make them more obvious.

I’ve sunbathed and used sunbeds and they blended really nice

OP posts:
CheeseSandwichRiskAssessment · 17/06/2024 19:22

Go for it. Why don't you pick up smoking to help keep the weight off too.

ShrinkingEveryDay · 17/06/2024 19:22

Wantachangefor2024 · 17/06/2024 19:13

What I will ask though and personally bugs me. Is the people who have told me off for using sunbeds. Go on four/five holidays a year and sunbathe. Sunbeds are strong but so is the midday sun in Greece. Any colour on your skin is dna damage. A tan is damage. So how many of you completely stay out of the sun?

Me. I stay out of the sun. I had a basal cell carcinoma removed from my face two years ago. It involved 3 stressful and unpleasant operations to try and rebuild my face and I still don’t recognise myself in the mirror. Please take the warnings seriously 😢

SnapdragonToadflax · 17/06/2024 19:21

I'm in my early 40s and know two women my age with who've had cancerous moles removed which they got from sunbeds in their teens.

I can't believe they're still legal, personally.

Springadorable · 17/06/2024 19:20

Only if having cancer will boost your confidence

NeverDropYourMooncup · 17/06/2024 19:19

Stretchmarks can't tan. You'd just make them more obvious.

norfolkbroadd · 17/06/2024 19:19

I would recommend peeking at a thread currently up in Chat in which a lovely poster is chronicling her father's battle with melanoma. The pictures might help you make up your mind...

LondonQueen · 17/06/2024 19:18

Brunette and natural will look much better than fake hair and breasts. I'd definitely avoid the sun beds as well unless you fancy melanoma. Find a better fake tan.

betterangels · 17/06/2024 19:18

how many of you completely stay out of the sun?

Me. No gotcha moment here.

StarOf · 17/06/2024 19:17

Stick with fake tan OP. Sunbeds are dangerous.

norfolkbroadd · 17/06/2024 19:17

If you're so pale you're almost translucent then you are even more in the danger zone for skin cancer! You should be using factor 30 spf every single day of the year on your face and a hat when there isn't adequate shade.

Greenlittecat · 17/06/2024 19:17

I wouldn't do it, but I understand why you would be tempted. It's a bit like smoking isn't it? Terrible for you but a release in a way?

I've heard from friends that sunbeds are just as addictive so it's best not to. Could you try a few different fake tans and see which ones work the best? Are you stretch marks still purple? They will fade!

Do sunbeds work if you put factor 50 on?

Oh also! Well done you for making changes❤️

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 17/06/2024 19:17

Wantachangefor2024 · 17/06/2024 19:13

What I will ask though and personally bugs me. Is the people who have told me off for using sunbeds. Go on four/five holidays a year and sunbathe. Sunbeds are strong but so is the midday sun in Greece. Any colour on your skin is dna damage. A tan is damage. So how many of you completely stay out of the sun?

I do not sunbathe. Because 4x skin cancer survivor.
I sit in the shade on a sunny day with long sleeves and always wear a hat.

Tanning beds are actually far worse than sunbathing for increasing risk of skin cancer - they deliver high dose UV and you never put on spf when you use them. Of course did not know this until late 1990s. It’s 34 years later, we know better now.

Original poster
Wantachangefor2024 · 17/06/2024 19:16

Shamrockk · 17/06/2024 19:12

https://www.boots.com/bondi-sands-technocolour-1-hour-express-self-tanning-foam-emerald-200ml-10326649?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc--PLAs---_-PMax:+UK_Smart_Shopping_Suncare&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADrIajV2mGg7SKpWG2X63iy5HaLaE&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIu9fD-Z3jhgMVJo9QBh0wAQBhEAQYASABEgJMg_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I would try something like this.

It is more of a olive green undertone so should counteract with the purple tones of stretch marks x

Thank you! But I have white stretch marks. If they were red I think fake tan would hide them easy. Being white the tan doesn’t stick but sticks to normal skin so they stand out like an orange and white zebra. People may think it’s shallow but having some colour really gives me a boost

OP posts:
norfolkbroadd · 17/06/2024 19:15

Wantachangefor2024 · 17/06/2024 19:13

What I will ask though and personally bugs me. Is the people who have told me off for using sunbeds. Go on four/five holidays a year and sunbathe. Sunbeds are strong but so is the midday sun in Greece. Any colour on your skin is dna damage. A tan is damage. So how many of you completely stay out of the sun?

Loads of us! We wear hats and spf.

Original poster
Wantachangefor2024 · 17/06/2024 19:13

What I will ask though and personally bugs me. Is the people who have told me off for using sunbeds. Go on four/five holidays a year and sunbathe. Sunbeds are strong but so is the midday sun in Greece. Any colour on your skin is dna damage. A tan is damage. So how many of you completely stay out of the sun?

OP posts:
SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 17/06/2024 19:12

I actually use mens gradual tanning lotion by ManCave. I think because it’s for men it takes longer to achieve a nice glow but requires zero skill to apply.

Fake tan I never could get right as it’s a faff to apply evenly, & wears off patchy.

But a daily moisturiser that gradually tans and I can be done in minutes- perfect!

betterangels · 17/06/2024 19:11

EmberAsh · 17/06/2024 18:51

There is enough information out there on the risks. If you want to put looks over health then so be it.

Yeah. You're an adult making an informed choice. I think they should be illegal, but that's me.

Beezknees · 17/06/2024 19:10

I'm extremely pale with stretch marks.

I'd still never use sunbeds. I'd rather be healthy and pale than get skin cancer with a tan.

Original poster
Wantachangefor2024 · 17/06/2024 19:10

LutonBeds · 17/06/2024 19:04

It’s up to you, I used to use them all the time and I expect I’ll pay for it one way or another. However, fake tan ALWAYS looks fake. Even when I’ve had ‘professional’ ones it looks shit and it’s very obvious I’m wearing fake tan. They all seem to have an orange base, they all settle badly in creases like elbows, knees and knuckles too. There’s also usually a white area around the hairline too.

I no longer do either and just try not to care that I’m paler than a ream of A4.

Being pale with dark hair actually suits me I just want a glow up you know! It is true I can’t find a fake one that looks good. Doesn’t go patchy after three days. But I was in an aesthetics place recently for Profhilo and two women were ten years older and I could see the damage tanning had done to their skin. They were mid 40s but crepey like skin. It’s hard to be a woman

OP posts: