Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Sunbed use

145 replies

Tevion10 · 19/04/2019 14:49

Posting here for traffic.
My ds aged 18 blonde fair skinned wants to get some colour for his holiday in July and also suffers from. Psoriasis.
He is a novice to sunbeds and I'm just looking for advice from anybody who uses them.
Does he need to wear suncream goggles etc and how long should he spend on them.

OP posts:
turnedToInsult · 19/04/2019 14:53

He shouldn't. They're dangerous.

He should wear a hat and waterproof factor 50 suncream and clothing with spf protection and stay out of the sun when it's at its strongest.

Any sun damage is bad.

Jesus wept.

zoezipp · 19/04/2019 14:54

Mother of the year Hmm

user1480880826 · 19/04/2019 14:54

You have got to be kidding?! Have you any idea how dangerous sun beds are? Do you want your kid to get skin cancer?

“One study found that the average skin cancer risk from sunbeds can be more than double that of spending the same length of time in the Mediterranean midday summer sun.”

www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/sun-uv-and-cancer/sunbeds-and-cancer

“people who are frequently exposed to UV rays before the age of 25 are at greater risk of developing skin cancer later in life”

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/lifestyle/are-sunbeds-safe/

It is illegal to allow anyone under the age of 18 to use a subbed.

You are going to get completely flamed for this post.

Ewitsahooman · 19/04/2019 14:55

Cancer Research published a report on sunbeds that states using them can increase your risk of melanoma by 16-20%.

Buy him a spray tan session instead.

Rottencooking · 19/04/2019 15:00

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

SospanFrangipan · 19/04/2019 15:00

My friend had skin cancer at the age of 21 from sunbed use. It's not worth it.

Prequelle · 19/04/2019 15:00

I really really regret going on the sunbeds when I was in my teens. I've increased my risk of cancer so so much.

My friend got skin cancer in his 20s. Terminal diagnosis, he's only alive now because he was part of a trial.

CloserIAm2Fine · 19/04/2019 15:01

YABVU

If he wants a tan then he should get a spray on one. And then wear sunscreen when he’s on holiday.

Really not sure why you would encourage your child to do something so dangerous that is so unnecessary

MustardScreams · 19/04/2019 15:03

Spray tan!

If he wants to use it for psoriasis get him to get his GP to refer him to a dermatologist and they can treat him safely.

FrenchSchnoodle · 19/04/2019 15:04

I hope this is a joke but it has helped to answer a question i had which is, who on earth still uses sunbeds? Ive seen a couple of new places on the high street offering sessions and I'm amazed that anyone still uses them

Wenttoseainasieve · 19/04/2019 15:06

'blonde, fair skinned'

No, OP.

HBStowe · 19/04/2019 15:06

There is no safe way to use a sunbed. It is more dangerous than smoking. I would try very hard to discourage him. If he wants some colour he should fake tan.

ZeldaPrincessOfHyrule · 19/04/2019 15:30

He wants some colour? Fake tan. End of. If he can't do that because of his psoriasis, then he'll have to be the colour he already is. He'll survive, unlike those people who get terminal skin cancer.

And before anyone says 'it's just once' or 'it's not a big deal' I don't care. It's a ridiculous practice whether it's once or twenty times.

LostInShoebiz · 19/04/2019 15:33

He is a novice to sunbeds and I'm just looking for advice from anybody who uses them.

Here’s some advice from someone (me) who used sunbeds very regularly in my teens and early twenties: just don’t. I’ve been incredibly lucky so far but have to spend a fortune on mole checks and removals. It’s just not worth it.

I highly doubt you’d be on here asking for advice if he suggested he’d like to start smoking in preparation for his holiday or inhaling some asbestos.

Sunbeds are utterly pernicious and ought to be banned outright.

XiCi · 19/04/2019 15:37

I second everything previously said and think sunbeds should be banned. However if he is determined to go on a sunbed he absolutely needs to wear goggles. If he doesn't this could cause permanent damage to his eyes.

hidinginthenightgarden · 19/04/2019 15:40

DH did a masters in Radiotherapy as few years ago. He said there were loads of men in their 50's that had been doing outdoor work in the sun for years and young people in their 20's who had been on sunbeds for a fraction of the time.
Tells you how much worse the sunbeds are than the sun!

Hiphopopotamous · 19/04/2019 15:41

Currently working in Dermatology.

The wavelength of light in the medical booths for psoriasis is very specific to minimise the risks of skin cancer as much as possible while penetrating the skin enough to work. They build up patients very slowly starting at tiny doses of energy for seconds, after doing a skin test. Sunbeds are unregulated, multiple wavelengths, people stay in them for too long.

I've just been on holiday, I used Bondi Sands fake tan before, the colour lasted for 2 weeks and I sat in the shade with sun cream on. Still came home with a tan. After what I've seen there's no way I would risk sunburn or try a sunbed.

NorthernSpirit · 19/04/2019 15:42

Here’s some advice..... don’t use them and he won’t get skin cancer.

Jasmineallenestate · 19/04/2019 15:46

Holiday resorts are just full of lads with their mates in hats and factor 50 Hmm i think the MN view is a little extreme. It's not as if he is planning to use a toilet brush or have his ears pierced. This is comedy gold.

turnedToInsult · 19/04/2019 15:48

@Jasmineallenestate

We might go to different types of places but the one I've just spent 2 weeks at (Thailand) was full of people (both genders) using suncream and hats and getting in the shade in the early afternoon.

Original poster
Tevion10 · 19/04/2019 15:57

God some people are so bloody rude

OP posts:
Original poster
Tevion10 · 19/04/2019 15:58

He is flipping 18 not underage

OP posts:
Original poster
Tevion10 · 19/04/2019 16:00

That comment is aimed at one or two posters by the way.

OP posts:
sunshineandshowers21 · 19/04/2019 16:02

my aunt regularly used sunbeds in her twenties and she has had to have moles removed a few times and has to go for skin checks regularly. i would never use a sunbed, and will strongly recommend to my kids that they never do either when they’re old enough. risking skin cancer for a bit of colour really is not worth it.