Sunbed Shock

Thank god you went back and got treatment. It was tough reading.
I've seen burns and sunstroke close up and I hope anyone who has similar experience gets treatment as soon as possible and doesn't experiement with "home" remedies as burns are tricky things.
wishing you a speedy recovery

Penicillin doesn’t cause sun sensitivity. However, other antibiotics (especially acne ones) usually do.

I am glad you got proper attention this time round. You shouldn't have had to go back.

Please pay no attention to the naysayers. I think there are people who have nothing in their lives but to sit around and make nasty comments to strangers online. It says everything about them and nothing about you.

I did sunbeds a few times in my early-mid 20s. That was back when you lay (in pools of your own sweat, yuck!) on the bed with tubes under and above you. I'm nearly sure that I did 20 minute sessions back then. I loved it when the standy-uppy beds became popular because they were so much more pleasant to use, and the only reason I know that you can only do a few minutes in them is because I used them. I haven't used them in well over 30 years so I wouldn't know the current guidelines, and if you're not a user either, then how on earth would you know? That was the salon's job and I really think they should be reported.

I think you should leave the thread up because, although there's a load of bullshit in it, it's a warning about the dangers of sunbeds.

I will never use one again and I'm sure you won't either. My DDs have never even though of using them, and I'd go mad if they did! They know what their aunt has gone through for the best part of 20 years.

I hope your skin heals quickly, and that you're not in too much pain. And don't be putting yourself down either. You've come across as a lovely person throughout the thread, even when posters have been mean-spirited x

I'm glad that you and your poor little skin are feeling better, OP!

Ignore the critics. If you've never been on a sunbed before and the person doing your appointment didn't do their job, how were you supposed to know that 20 mins isn't OK? I wouldn't have known. Twenty minutes would have sounded about right to me! I'm amazed that you're only supposed to do 2-3 mins. And I am not stupid; I have a degree and a higher degree and a responsible job. What I am is inexperienced with sunbeds, same as you.

I think you absolutely need to make the shop owner aware, though, in case other people are getting burned! You don't have to make your complaint formal or anything at this stage, but it sounds as if that worker didn't know what she was doing, and she needs to know asap!

Really glad you’ve gone back and got some treatment. The receptionist should not have been attempting to give you medical advice. Please don’t have the thread deleted, reading it may save others from what you’ve endured. Oh, and the tanning salon were very remiss, this is not all on you. You had no experience of sunbeds, but they’re meant to guide and safeguard you.

Before using a sunbed as a one off i thought that 20 minutes is like 20 minutes sunbathing which it clearly isn't. The salon u went to asked me if I had used one before and advised me to do 3 minutes to start which surprised me but was right. The salon has a duty of care and I would certainly be looking at taking further action if I were you, at minimum a complaint but potentially you could be entitled to compensation. The guidance for those providing sunbeds can be found here: https://www.activesalon.com/faq/tanning-salon-safety-guidelines-policies/

I’m glad you finally got some appropriate treatment. I hope you feel better soon.

I'm glad that you are receiving treatment and hope you recover soon. It has been a harsh lesson for you but I hope you don't delete this thread.
I and many others I'm sure, hope it will make people think twice about using sunbeds.
Spray tanning shops are a much safer option if you want a tan before going away or even if staying at home. Take care.

I agree! This thread has been more useful from my daughter than me going on at her. As what do I know.

Thanks for the pics too. It makes it real.

I am so pleased you've now had suitable treatment, OP. I hope you're out of pain soon. You sound absolutely lovely and I'm so sorry you've been upset by the critical posts on top of your physical pain. All the best for a speedy recovery 🎉

So glad you got seen again and got better treatment. I don't even know you but I was worried for you! Hope you feel a lot better soon.

I really wouldn’t delete this thread because it may be very useful to others. You’ve made a mistake @SansaStark90but the salon is absolutely negligent and you must deal with that. Make sure you take plenty of pictures of your burns while you can. It’s really important because next time, somebody could die. I am glad you’re feeling better and hope it continues to improve. As an aside, I had radiotherapy for breast cancer and that caused significant burns. What helped a lot was 100% aloe vera gel and E45 lotion. Applied after a lukewarm shower. It really took the sting out.

You made a stupid mistake that is not the same as being stupid! A lot of very clever people make some very very stupid mistakes. Everyone does from time to time. And reading here there are different types of sunbeds and some you do use for longer times, so it really wasn’t that daft. I have never used one so I honestly wouldn’t have had a clue beforehand.

Yes this site can be tough on times and people forget there is a living breathing feeling person on the other end but it has given you enough confidence to go and be seen again, get fluids and appropriate treatment. Hopefully next time( though 🤞🏻 there isn’t one) you will be able to stand up for yourself if a medic is dismissive.

Both are massive wins. Mumsnet is like a packet of revels - take what you want and ignore those you don’t (but occasionally you won’t pay attention and eat a coffee one).

Please complain about the Sunbed establishment as they should never have allowed you to go on for 20 minutes! That's so dangerous. I've been on sunbeds as a teenager but I couldn't just pick the length of time - it was all centrally controlled and they did not allow me more than a few minutes at a time.

Don't worry about it. Some people with very small lives try to make themselves feel better by acting superior over complete strangers on the internet.

I'm so glad you have updated us OP.. Please don't feel bad, stupid or anything else.. We've been worried about you. I'm glad the blistering wasn't too bad. You WILL recover from this and feel better soon.

Please report the salon.

I know you won't report, but just think for a second.

Someone like you who is seriously poorly, in need of help and medical attention turns up to A&E but its stupid busy, there is a queue out the door, the place is full.. and when you report to the receptionist on check-in they casually give you a home remedy that they or a friend used or heard about someone who used it and it worked for them... and because its busy, or like in your case the dr is dismissive, so you go home, think.. oh i'll give that a try.. and they end up worse, doing more damage, have a serious allergic reaction, or potentially killing themselves, get an infection from it and go into sepsis because home remedies have the potential to be VERY dangerous.

You were lucky, the next person she does that to might not be.

A receptionist is there to check the patients in, not to give unsolicited, potentially lethal advice. They absolutely 100% shouldn't be doing it.

@SansaStark90 your message is important. Mumsnetters are used to daft advice. Anyone can burn in the sun. Especially near/on water or as pp said near the equater which I'd never thought about. The blame is on the sunbed shop employee in this instance.

My son spent six years in the Caribbean twenty years later he had a dodgy mole removed thanks to an observant wife.

Spray tan or pale and interesting from now on.

I would go back to the salon to tell them what happened. They shouldn’t have allowed you go on so long. It might stop the same happening to someone else.

I think you’ve had a very useful thread OP so please don’t feel down about it. You could well have saved someone from the same horrible events, so that can only be for the good. Ignore the unkind posters, some people just love to pull others down, they are insignificant.
I do think the sun bed shop should be taking some of responsibility for what happened, but I understand if you don’t want the hassle of pursuing it.
I hope you get better soon.

Good luck OP, hope you feel better soon. Stop beating yourself up and calling yourself 'stupid' and referring to your burns as 'self-inflicted'. It was a mistake and the salon staff should not have allowed it to happen. I wouldn't have a clue what the right amount of time to spend on a sunbed is either. This wasn't your fault.

Good you are being seen. 💐💐

Glad you’re feeling better OP.