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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

about sunbeds

169 replies

IceBeing · 14/05/2014 09:34

I probably am, because I just lost my DM to malignant melanoma. She likely got that because her own mother forced her as a child to wait out in the sun for her father to the point she was regularly blistered from sun burn.

But why on earth would anyone do this to themselves on purpose?

Why should people be allowed to make money from increasing people's chances of skin cancer?

OP posts:
Original poster
IceBeing · 14/05/2014 10:18

chipped fair enough. I think a drug high can be described as a short term benefit. I don't think without it anyone would smoke more than once.

OP posts:
TequilaMockingbirdy · 14/05/2014 10:18

Of course maidofstars and thankyou for explaining!

Original poster
IceBeing · 14/05/2014 10:19

Okay then so can someone actually state what the short term benefit of using a sunbed actually is?

OP posts:
TequilaMockingbirdy · 14/05/2014 10:19

I would support a ban on sunbeds actually despite what I've said in this thread - but I suppose that's because I no longer user name.

Original poster
IceBeing · 14/05/2014 10:20

I mean can we replace them with homeopathic tanning tablets?

OP posts:
Thurlow · 14/05/2014 10:20

You don't think there is any benefit to using a sunbed at all. You.

That does not mean that other people don't get a tangible benefit out of using them.

There is a woman who lives near me who I see running for miles and miles every day. She is incredibly skinny and muscley and to my mind looks very unhealthy. Sometimes I think, what of her joints? Has all this running improved her health in anyway? It doesn't look like it has. It looks the opposite in fact. And looks-wise, she does not look like she is glowing with health or anything.

But that is me who thinks this isn't doing her any benefits at all. She clearly gets enjoyment out of it and thinks it is giving her benefits. Each to their own.

WhistleTopTomato · 14/05/2014 10:21

I take it you're going to be the final arbiter of whether any given activity makes anyone happy, OP?

And your argument about smoking is void because of the existence of other nicotine delivery systems.

Original poster
IceBeing · 14/05/2014 10:21

or nail salons?

OP posts:
Gileswithachainsaw · 14/05/2014 10:21

It makes people look better and ergo feel better.

Improves appearance of poor skin

Easy to do, no streaking or chemical smell

limitedperiodonly · 14/05/2014 10:21

You answered your own question in your first line. YABU because you are upset.

Saying people should be charged for the treatment of conditions that you consider are self-inflicted is not only offensive, it's unworkable.

I'm sorry about your mother.

TequilaMockingbirdy · 14/05/2014 10:21

There are short term benefits.

People feel good, I used to feel an instant boost after using a sunbed.

Original poster
IceBeing · 14/05/2014 10:21

whistle that is a bloody good point. Okay we can ban smoking too!

OP posts:
BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 14/05/2014 10:22

Ice I think your grief at the moment is over-riding your logic.

It's natural and when I lost my mum I felt the same about smoking.

However, like someone else said, we cannot be responsible for other peoples choices no matter how pointless we think they are.

We do a lot of things for enjoyment, because we like them, regardless of what the consequences could be. That's human nature for you.

You are blinkered at the moment and quite naturally so.

So sorry about your mum Thanks

Original poster
IceBeing · 14/05/2014 10:22

tequila can you examine that 'boost' for me? Was it physical? mental?

OP posts:
Melonbreath · 14/05/2014 10:22

Smoking benefits: I get 3 minutes to call my own and a feeling of aaahhhhhhhhhh
smoking cons: cancer, aging, bad teeth, smelly, getting antsy when I want a fag, coughing.

Tanning cons: skin damage. Skin damage. Looking like a wizened orange
Tanning pros: well if you like the wizened orange look.....

I think tanning places are pointless and stupid. But i like being pale. But if people know the risks and don't care anyway.....

Original poster
IceBeing · 14/05/2014 10:23

betty...yeah...I agree really.

It just seems so utterly stupid to put your appearance above your health.

OP posts:
Original poster
IceBeing · 14/05/2014 10:24

melon yes that would have been an easier way to put it!

OP posts:
colleysmill · 14/05/2014 10:25

Uva and uvb are still used by the nhs for treatment for skin conditions, particularly psoriasis although it's use is closely calculated and monitored.

Chippednailvarnish · 14/05/2014 10:28

When my skin improves after a sunbed I can cut down on the amount of chemicals I have to use to keep my skin under control (some of which are potentially cancer causing).
I can wear significantly less make up.
I can wear clothes that don't cover me head to toe in hot weather.

They're the benefits I get. Still going to call me an idiot?

TequilaMockingbirdy · 14/05/2014 10:30

It's a mental boost. This is fact and I will post sources when I'm home in taxi at min :) so as well as people thinking they look good they feel good whilst doing so.

Gileswithachainsaw · 14/05/2014 10:32

And can I just ask, why you think fake tan is better?

It's expensive, tough to do properly and is full of chemicals some people react to. People have been scarred for life with tanning lotions too.

Far more people are allergic to chemicals in skin care products than are allergic to UV rays.

It's not a risk free option either. But you can't ban lotions and potions either and there's a long process to banning culprit chemicals

Sparklingbrook · 14/05/2014 10:34

I don't really understand why anyone would want a spray tan either TBH.

CountessVronsky · 14/05/2014 10:35

Why should they be banned? It's no more stupid than smoking. Actually, it's slightly less stupid than smoking.

Birdsgottafly · 14/05/2014 10:48

""I don't really understand why anyone would want a spray tan either TBH.""

That's the same as not understanding why anyone wants to dye their hair.

I miss using sunbeds.

I was in an accident and got badly sunburned, before that I never sun tanned, only really used beds.

I like being darker than my colour.

OP, your reaction to grief is usual, but recognise that the research shows that being sunburned and heavily tanned in childhood is the biggest factor in skin cancer.

I worked in elderly care and it was common for men who had served in Egypt etc to have to have patches of skin cancer cut out. This is the group that made the statistics look so high.

It is a controlled risk, you weigh up risks and decide if you want to proceed, just like with that glass of wine or sweets for your children.

Most Cancers are lifestyle related, that is clear, but when it comes to "treats", everyone is in defence.

If people stopped taking the piss out of "bad" false tan, then maybe the use of sunbeds would die out.

It isn't easy or cheap to self tan, well.

WheresItTo · 14/05/2014 10:48

Someone said that sunbeds are prescribed for psoriasis. My DF has this really bad and was sent for UV treatment a couple of time, but it is not the same as the UV rays in sunbeds, it is a different wavelength (or summat!) and it is used in a very controlled way at the hospital, not in a tanning shop! In fact he has had a really bad flare up recently but has been told that he cannot have any more UV treatment as with the amount he has had already, he would be risking possible skin cancer to have more.