Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Does anyone use sunbed ?

182 replies

shelly0 · 16/10/2018 13:39

Currently pregnant so haven't used a sunbed since feb but I really can't wait to get back on them despite knowing the dangers, how Can I stop myself I don't like fake tan at all. I used to go on twice a week for 10-12 mins I really don't want to go back to old ways but I'm itching too.

OP posts:
Whatdoyouknow2 · 16/10/2018 21:22

I was the same when I was pregnant. Once I felt upto it I went straight to the local salon for a sunbed course and my eyelashes doing. Felt sooooo good after 9 months of neglect and a difficult labour/recovery. Every mum is entitled to look after and treat themselves. I don't get these people who criticise those that do, just because you're a mum doesn't mean u all of a sudden have to start looking like shit. It's nice to feel nice :)

waterlego6064 · 16/10/2018 21:45

Right. Good.

Right.

So people without tans ‘look like shit’?

Good to know 😆

Paradyning · 16/10/2018 21:49

I'd rather look shit and pale than dead.

MarthasGinYard · 16/10/2018 21:52

I'd rather be pale and wrinkle free than like a Luis Vuitton handbag

I live in quite a nice area and electric beach tans are considered very grim and 80's

MarthasGinYard · 16/10/2018 21:53

Vita Liberata is pretty good

Whatdoyouknow2 · 16/10/2018 21:54

Really? Where did I say that? It meant people that criticise others for taking any care in their personal appearance whether that be wearing make up daily, having cosmetic work, using sunbeds etc. Many people seem to think that if you become a mother you should focus on your baby and only your baby , when in fact you also need to look after yourself and what makes you feel good (within reason). Yeah sun beds are bad for you, I'm sure everyone is aware of the risks when they use them but it is an individual choice, as are a lot of things that are bad for you (endless lists in fact which are probably a lot more damaging than a couple of bloody sunbeds!)
I do think a lot of people envy other mums who do look good all the time and rather than having something nice to say they find something to pull them down about (and no not just in terms of using a sun bed!)

MarthasGinYard · 16/10/2018 21:57

I don't consider an electric tan 'looking after yourself' or looking good.

finnmcool · 16/10/2018 21:59

whatsotouknow women who don't have fake eyelashes, nails, sunbed tans don't look like shit.

We are beautiful in our own ways, without the fakery.

Re-read your penultimate post, you did reference looking like shit.

finnmcool · 16/10/2018 22:01

whatdoyouknow apologies, dodgy autocorrect.

Whatdoyouknow2 · 16/10/2018 22:03

As I've said its each to their own and if something makes you feel good then why not do it?
Never said people that don't do any of the mentioned look like shit. Many people think you should stop doing all of that once you're a parent, I for one would feel like shit if I did, but it seems that many people think that that is how it should be?!

Nacreous · 16/10/2018 22:03

I'm glad you are looking at other options, OP.

I did my degree in cell and cancer biology at Cambridge, and I really cannot over emphasise how scary the lectures on UV damage to cells and then on malignant melanoma were. The chance of death if you have MM are vastly higher than almost any other cancer, and the rate of DNA errors caused by UV light is frankly terrifying. The human body is amazing and fixes as many as it can, but every extra one increases your chances of cancer.

Bluntness100 · 16/10/2018 22:04

That's a very odd perspective to have whatdoyouknow. We all have different opinions. I don't think the warnings on this thread are because people are envious of the op, I can categorically assure you I'm not. If I wished to have sunbed sessions and fake eye lashes I would.

I chose not to use sunbeds due to pure vanity. Not the health risks. I understand what it does to the skin and didnt want to hit my forties and look like I was two decades older and smoked sixty a day. I get you're ok with that, and that's fine, but I don't think saying others warning about the health risks and premature ageing are doing so due to some form of envy is rational.

PurpleDaisies · 16/10/2018 22:04

It meant people that criticise others for taking any care in their personal appearance whether that be wearing make up daily, having cosmetic work, using sunbeds etc.

Using sun beds massively increases your risk of skin cancer. It’s an incredibly daft thing to do. Nothing to do with whether you’re a mum, a woman or a man,

PurpleDaisies · 16/10/2018 22:06

Cross posted with this...,

As I've said its each to their own and if something makes you feel good then why not do it?

You watch someone die of melanoma aged 29 and you’ll understand why not.

crazycatgal · 16/10/2018 22:07

I have never used the sunbed and I never will. I know plenty of people who are long term sunbed users and their skin looks old and leathery. I'm into fake nails and makeup etc but would never do anything that would damage my skin and age me prematurely.

Whatdoyouknow2 · 16/10/2018 22:08

MarthasGinYard

Well I feel good with a bit of a tan (whether natural or 'electric') When I haven't got one I get asked constantly if I'm unwell because I look so ill.

I suppose all you people that are acting like a sunbed is the worst thing in the world aren't in the 60% of women who are obese and at massive risk of all sorts of health problems, or dont smoke or drink or have any indulgements that are bad for you?

madmomma · 16/10/2018 22:10

Save the money you would be spending on sunbeds and buy yourself some really luxurious bronzing products. And some vitamin d tablets.

Whatdoyouknow2 · 16/10/2018 22:11

Bluntness100 where did I say people warning about the dangers were envious? I meant people that pull other mums down for looking good and taking care of them selves (tan or not).

MarthasGinYard · 16/10/2018 22:13

'When I haven't got one I get asked constantly if I'm unwell because I look so ill.'

Maybe eat more healthily, up the vitamin intake, juice some kale and get some good old fresh air Smile

waterlego6064 · 16/10/2018 22:13

I do think a lot of people envy other mums who do look good all the time

This is a bizarre assumption to make, in my opinion. If you had read the thread properly, I think it would have been evident to you that people have expressed concerns about skin damage. Where is the post where the OP is told she shouldn’t have time to herself, or go for beauty treatments now that she has a child?Hmm Not one person has said that or anything like it.

I don’t use sunbeds and I don’t sunbathe because I am terrified of melanoma. I don’t wear false eyelashes because I’m not keen on the way they look. I dislike long nails because I think they are unhygienic. I dislike wearing make up because I teach fitness classes and it would sweat off within 5 minutes.

If I envied other women their beauty interventions, I would surely go and have those same interventions?

I have no problem with how I look.

turquoise88 · 16/10/2018 22:14

It absolutely blows my mind that something that has been proven to increase your risk of cancer is undertaken by so many people because they care more about what they look like than the potential implications for themselves and their families in the future. It's so very sad.

Wussypants · 16/10/2018 22:14

@Whatdoyouknow2

"Every mum is entitled to look after and treat themselves."

I'd say every child is entitled to a mum who looks after their own health to minimise the chance of them dying young and leaving their children without a mother. So doing things like staying off sunbeds, wearing seatbelts, not smoking etc. Yeah get eyelashes, nails, makeup etc if you fancy it, just skip the high risk cancer stuff. But I am biased as my mum died when I was young and my biggest fear is history repeating itself.

Whatdoyouknow2 · 16/10/2018 22:14

Purpledaisies - yes must be horrific. But there are many people that die of all sorts of conditions that could have been prevented by then changing their lifestyle, does that make us all think about that every time we do something that might not be the best thing for us? No I don't think we do.
As I've said ya each to their own.

MarthasGinYard · 16/10/2018 22:14

'I meant people that pull other mums down for looking good and taking care of them selves (tan or not).'

No one is pulling down 'other mums'

How ridiculous

PurpleDaisies · 16/10/2018 22:15

When I haven't got one I get asked constantly if I'm unwell because I look so ill.*

I buy the palest foundation that’s available and I’m like an advert for whiter than white washing powder. If people tell me to tan, I just tell them that’s how I look naturally and I’m happy with that. Pale doesn’t have to mean looking ill.

I suppose all you people that are acting like a sunbed is the worst thing in the world aren't in the 60% of women who are obese and at massive risk of all sorts of health problems, or dont smoke or drink or have any indulgements that are bad for you?

I’m not obese. I’m vegetarian. I don’t smoke. I drink within recommended limits. Not that any of that matters.

Sun beds hugely increase your risk of skin cancer. I can’t understand why anyone uses one.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.