about sunbeds

[IceBeing]

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?

In fact this year, I have been thinking if covering my chest area (where I was burned and face for anti ageing), but tan the rest of my body.

And doesnt smoking also increase the risk of skin cancer?

Did your mum use sunbeds op? Or was it from the negletful parenting when she was a child?

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

It's both, for me. I show more if me off when I'm tanned, so eat healthy and exercise more specifically when I am using beds.

It is a lifestyle thing with many women, along with a general interest in how they want to look.

ENormaSnob, the OP outlined her mother's situation from the start. Your post looks a little, um, insensitive.

I'm a long term severe psoriasis sufferer. I've done numerous high risk things to improve the appearance of my skin over the years and I have had to weigh up the pros and cons of treatment.

I've had light treatment (nhs and self tanning) and taken medication known to predispose to skin cancer. I've also had a malignant mole and an atypical mole removed.

I still take the medication despite the risks because my quality of life is poor without treatment. Its often underestimated what the psychological impact on appearance problem skin can have, particularly if you walk round leaving trails akin to cornflakes in your wake (which is what I do untreated). I guess people who regularly use sunbeds also get a psychological boost too.

I'm so sorry for your loss op but sadly lots of things in life carry risk and we can't make people make the same choices perhaps that we would, if that's what they choose then that's up to them.

Sorry, it wasnt meant to be insensitive.

Apologies op.

Icebeing, people who are vit d deficient, have MS, some skin conditions etc. In some parts of Scotland a bit further north from me lack of sunshine and light is an issue and rickets still rife because of it. I know a lot of people just use them to be some form of dayglo orange but for some people its about more than that

If my GP recommended use of a sunbed for a medical reason I would probably find it hard to argue.
But I would want that recommendation IYKWIM.

I also know this as a fact, a lot of subbed salons are a means of drug (etc) money laundering.

I'm very very pale. When I meet new people they ask me if I'm ill ' are you anaemic' Is also a very common question. I became so self conscious.

False tan turns me orange and a streaky orange at that so I tried sunbeds. 3 minutes every now and then works wonders. I don't use it to get a golden tan i use It to get just a bit of colour in my skin. And when I say a bit of colour I mean Im now slightly pale instead of very very very pale.

And you know what? I haven't been asked if I am anaemic. I have had comments on how much healthier I look and my confidence has soared.

Those are my benefits. And while I sympathise with you OP and understand why you are upset. These are MY reasons and you do not get to dictate whether they are good enough or not.

As are travel agents!

That was to Birds

Great post Colley.

Agree Sparkling if I was recommended by a Dr then I may tentatively be in the market to try.

I was orange in the late 80s early 90s....used sunbeds wish I hadn't.

Lost a friend to MM directly linked to use of sunbeds. Just awful.

Another guy I know who still used to recently a few minutes here and there ....he is being treated also.

They frighten me.

Solariums are being banned all over Australia, because they
cause malignant melanoma....this is in the country with the highest rate of skin-cancer!

You couldn’t pay me to go on a sunbed. I live in Glasgow where they are ridiculously popular and can spot a sunbed tan a mile away, it isn’t like a normal tan. it’s a weird apricot shade. No I don’t think you’ve just been to the Maldives, I do think you’ve just been to Sunset Beach Turbo Tanz though.

Sunbed use makes people’s skin age incredibly badly incredibly quickly. Honestly if you have even an ounce of vanity do not use sun beds.

And all that’s even before the high risks of skin cancer. I’m not sure about banning them but I do think there should be more regulation, and they should be stricter about enforcing the under-18s ban. I'm glad though that they've outlawed unmanned coin operated booths.

You don't physiologically feel better after tanning...why would you?

I feel pleasure immediately direct sunlight hits my skin.

I feel my mood lift directly when I get off the plane in a sunny country.

The UK/London is somewhat depressing to live in precisely because the sky is low and grey most of the time, instead of high and blue.

I know this is a rainy country, but I didn't realise some people were so accustomed to it that they don't know what proper sunlight is actually like.

and can spot a sunbed tan a mile away, it isn’t like a normal tan. it’s a weird apricot shade

I can't fathom any biological basis for this so I'm going to suggest that those who sunbed tan may also be using shimmery/tinted products to enhance the look of that tan?

colley thank you for your post. I guess appearance is more of a spectrum than I give it credit for. Like I don't think people should enhance their appearance as such but then if someone had disfiguring birthmarks etc then I wouldn't view that the same way.

I would class psoriasis as an illness though...you are treating it. I don't think it is vanity in any sense.

I worry that in general we all try to look so uniform. I am pale as anything too...but I think people are made differently...I don't think we should all aspire to the same supposedly optimum shade of tan.

Again it is different if your appearance is wildly outside the norm such that it ends up ruling your existence.

maybe like boob jobs. If you are in the normal spectrum A-E then leave it alone. If you are outside that or have had masectomy etc. then it is a different issue.

Having said that if you are naturally extremely pale then are you not at even greater risk of cancer if you try to correct via UV radiation?

birds I do accept what you are saying but my OP was sparked by the liverpool excess in skin cancer over other places being connected to the excess use of sunbeds there.

It looks like a substantial number of cases of cancer from that area are now traceable to sunbed use rather than other more traditional methods.

Oh I suspect there is an element of vanity there :) but it's probably not the whole reason. I guess I can understand why people want to improve the appearance of their skin, especially in the summer when so much of its exposed.

But you're right, it's is high risk using sunbeds but I guess that's a personal decision as long as people know that. There must be a demand for them otherwise they would go out of business (like the one near me did)

I have malignant melanoma and have never been on a sun bed in my life and not one for sunbathing. I have two very young children (22m and 4m) and I might die. I genuinely can't understand why anyone would deliberately put themselves at risk like that.

I am so sorry to hear that beccajoh.

Having said that if you are naturally extremely pale then are you not at even greater risk of cancer if you try to correct via UV radiation?

I don't think so, I'm not freckley and I have no moles.
Besides 3 minutes one every 1-2 +months is nothing. You will do more damage on a weeks holiday abroad.

becca I'm really sorry. My friend is only really young and is in the same boat. He's beat all the odds so far. Xx