Sunbed Shock

Hi OP, I work on the front line in health care and telling you now please don’t let embarrassment stop you seeking care. You need to be seen and possibly be put on IV fluids. Take care x

Sounds awful. Sunbeds aren’t good for your health at the best of time, I’d stick to fake tan if I were you. Hope you feel better soon.

I would complain to the shop too that's so dangerous, they never should have let you do this. That staff member needs better training. Try raise your legs too to help with swelling.

Calm down firstly. See a doctor secondly. They won’t judge you, they will have seen this and far worse before
Whatever you are feeling will pass and your skin will return to normal aesthetically. Drink plenty of fluids. Please stay out of the sun this summer as your skin will be very sensitive.No more sunbeds- they are the work of the devil. Keep a close eye on your skin after this and eat/rest well

You don't need a GP, you need to go to hospital. You may need to be put on a drip to prevent severe dehydration.

You are also now at incredibly high risk for skin cancer including melanoma, so you will need to check your skin monthly and ideally book in for annual mole checks.

Do they sell the green aloe gel in the UK? if they do, get some ASAP and put it in the freezer. Reapply frequently, drink water, rest. For some reason aftersun doesn't do much for me, but freezing cold green aloe gel works wonders. Stupidly went on a sunbed at uni (also extremely pale), only 9 mins, but enough to fry my body for 24 hours. 0/10 experience, never repeated.

Editing to add: it is the Banana Boat Aloe After Sun Gel that I use.

Echoing others, stay out the sun after this, you have essentially given your body third degree burns and you need to take care and monitor your skin after this for changes. Definitely don't be embarassed about going to a GP.

Please go get medical attention. They may be able to give you better creams that you can’t get over the counter etc. I wouldn’t treat this myself without medical advice. you really need to get seen.

Are you prepared to die of embarrassment? Because that could happen if you don't get medical advice.

@SansaStark90, don’t let your embarrassment stop you from getting the professional medical help you need. Don’t wait until tomorrow, you need to ring 111 or go to a&e (where they’ll probably send you anyway) tonight.

@SansaStark90 Please do not let embarrassment prevent you from seeking appropriate medical care.

Another vote for see a doctor.

I used to do 3 minutes in the sunbed, maybe 5 after I’d been going a few weeks and sometimes would be a bit pink after that. I can’t imagine how painful it must be to have gone from zero to 20 minutes.

And yes the OP should take some responsibility, but so should the shop. I think anyone at my local shop asking for 20 minutes would be questioned if they weren’t a regular, and it wasn’t a particularly professional place.

I think you need to be really careful sunstroke can be fatal. If you get really unwell please seek medical help. It’s not just your skin it’s your organs overheating. Maybe ring 111.

Yeah you need medical advice OP.

Get into a tepid bath, not cold.

Do you have any aloe vera? Put this on instead of any creams.

This is going to take a week or two OP, so be aware of this so you can be prepared.

You need to drink fluids, you are at high risk of dehydration.
Get some anti histamine as well as the burnt area may start to itch like hell. Whatever you do, do not scratch and pop any blisters.

I see you are worried about scarring. This is the least of your issues now, but if you pop any blisters that will increase the risk.

Get aloe vera on and keep the skin moist. Don't let it dry out.

Just sleep with a sheet and take ibuprofen.

Of course see a dr if feel you need to.

The shop were negligent, there’s no way they should have let you do 20 minutes, I started with 3 minutes once and burnt a bit from that.

Have you contacted 111 or going to go to a walk in etc for the burns?

20 minutes holy good god. I think I'd seek medical attention.

Surely this is negligent and the tanning shop should not have allowed you to use the bed for so long.

My family were heading off on our first holiday abroad in 1986, when I was just 6 years old, and in "preparation", my DM hired a sunbed, which me and my 4 year old DSis were placed under in order to "get our skin ready" for the foreign sun! Totally bonkers, and you'll never guess what my DM did for a living... she was a NURSE!

Swallow your pride and go to a walk in centre OP. That needs looked at. I'd be worried about some sort of sun allergy type thing.

Whilst that’s your opinion and that of plenty others, burning doesn’t always stop people from using the sunbeds. Hence why it’s best to give some advice for if she wants to go back to prevent the same thing happening again.

How the chuff did you endure 20 mins???
I've got olive skin and tan really well but I can only handle 6 mins on a sunbed.
I really hope you've gone quiet on this thread because you're seeking medical attention.
Update us, I'm actually concerned for you ❤️

To all the people saying the op is stupid for doing this, this is not the time and not what people need to hear when they are worried and anxious. The shop should have provided advice and guidance when the op went in. It’s so negligent. I don’t know who regulates these shops in the uk? They are certainly a public health risk and agree they should be banned.