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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:
ZeldaPrincessOfHyrule · 19/04/2019 16:23

OP, why is that 'obvious'? I think there are two issues here. First is his desire to 'get some colour'. There's fake tan for that. The second issue is his psoriasis. Sun beds aren't for that. In fact, they may even turn him away if he's got a skin condition. Separate the issues and there's a separate solution to both that doesn't involve cancer risks.

Original poster
Tevion10 · 19/04/2019 16:24

Mmm prequelle I probably will read up more.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tevion10 · 19/04/2019 16:25

I want nothing more than to see him psoriasis free.

OP posts:
Drogosnextwife · 19/04/2019 16:26

OP my DP was told by doctors to go to sunbeds because of his psoriasis. Clears it up everytime. Yes definitely use Google's and he will have to start at a few mins at a time. If it doesn't clear it up tell him to give it up. Also tell him to try and use the upgraded beds, I can't remember what they are called but they use a different type of bulb.
You may aswell have asked for tips for your son to become a heroine addict on here.

Myfavouritechild · 19/04/2019 16:26

Most hospital-based light therapy for psoriasis uses UVB rays. ... Most commercial sunbeds use UVA light. UVA rays won't treat psoriasis on their own. If you have too much exposure to UVA and UVB rays, this can cause skin ageing and increase your risk of skin cancer.

Being out in the sun rarely made my psoriasis better, some years it made it much worse. The only thing that helped me was using Biologics (Enbrel/Humira).

Original poster
Tevion10 · 19/04/2019 16:27

Lol drogo

OP posts:
LuceatLuxVestra · 19/04/2019 16:27

Hey OP, whilst I agree sunbeds are not a good idea for him, I think people are being a bit harsh on you here. He's 18 and if he wants to use one he will do so regardless of being advised not to. I remember me at 18 and I doubt I'd have listened especially if all my friends were using them)

I think you should advise him as follows:

  1. Advise not to use them as damaging his skin and increasing his cancer risk for the sake of looking tanned at the start of a holiday just isn't worth it, especially when spray tans will do the same job (and be quicker and cheaper)
  1. If he is going to use one anyway then he needs to be careful. Go on for the shortest time (3 - 4 mins usually) this is important as he is fair skinned.
  1. Wearing the goggles is a must. The rays easily penetrate the eyelids and can damage the eyes.
  1. Use only 2-3 times, ideally two or three days apart. Definitely not consecutive days.
  1. Moisturise well afterwards and avoid the sun. Don't expose skin to the sun the same day as a sunbed.

Of course the safest way to use them is not to! And given the lovely weather at the moment it seems a bit pointless when he could sit out in the actual sun for a couple of hours (with suncream of course) and get a base tan the natural way!

Anyway hope this helps although I do hope you can manage to convince him it's a bad idea Smile

Original poster
Tevion10 · 19/04/2019 16:29

Obviously I won't dismiss posters views but there could be a bit of scaremongering going on

OP posts:
Chesneyhawkes1 · 19/04/2019 16:36

I go on them. I tan very easily though and never burn even in the strong sun.

I got on for 9 mins a time every so often and my tan lasts ages. Since I've been using retinol on my face I do turn the face bit off though.

If he's going to do it tell him to start with 3 mins and use a cream. Also look for somewhere with good beds. I go to indigo sun.

The people in the shop should be able to advise him. When I've not been for ages they won't let me go on for anything over 6 mins. Same when the beds have just been re-tubed.

Original poster
Tevion10 · 19/04/2019 16:38

I'm going to look into it more

OP posts:
TigersRoll · 19/04/2019 16:40

Why do people have to be such arseholes? For fucks sake OP asked a simple question. Why not reply with “well I wouldn’t as they increase risk of skin cancer by X, Y and Z”

Much more effective than sneering, insulting and acting like 14 year old bullies.

Ignore the nasty comments OP, keyboard warriors are drawn to mumsnet for some reason.

Anyway, in response to your question, I would advice him not to as the risk outweighs the benefits. And I say this as a pale, anaemic who hates being the whitest person abroad.

Halloumimuffin · 19/04/2019 16:41

I have psoriasis and sun/sunbeds don't help me at all, so I don't think it's worth the risk trying to be honest. They are so bad for your skin - even without the cancer risk, have you seen any long term sunbed users? My boss went on one before every holiday and at age 30 she had the neck skin of a 50 year old, looked like old boots.

CupOhTea · 19/04/2019 16:42

I know someone who is having UV light treatment, (so a bit like sun beds), on the NHS, to treat psoriasis. Maybe that’s an option? It seems to be working quite well, but it’s obviously monitored heavily and by HCPs, not just the salon. There is still a risk of skin cancer I think, but they discussed it beforehand with my friend and the risk was smaller than the affect the psoriasis was having on my friend’s MH.

I still wouldn’t send him to a salon personally and am really surprised that’s what drogo says a GP advised. They have UV light treatments available on the NHS. Why would a GP think “nah don’t bother with that, just go down the beauty salon”. I do believe you drogo, but think it’s pretty poor of your DP’s doctor.

BlackPrism · 19/04/2019 16:54

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LostInShoebiz · 19/04/2019 16:59

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Plentyapollo · 19/04/2019 17:03

You wanted a response regarding advising your child on how to use sun Beds! This is a seriously flawed question on advising your child on how to harm himself and then you wonder... why people are rude.
There is no accounting for stupidity. I’m uploading a picture of the damage treatment for a malignant melanoma has done to me after sunburn as a child in the 1970s and you want people to advocate use of a sun bed.
Please do not look if squeamish
Stupid woman

Original poster
Tevion10 · 19/04/2019 17:07

Maybe stupid woman would be interested in your picture and taken note if you wasn't so bloody nasty about it

OP posts:
Plentyapollo · 19/04/2019 17:09

Ps I’m 54 blond haired, fair skinned and living with the knowledge that my future is uncertain. My children and most of their friends are very knowledgable intelligent skin aware today... where have you and your child been?

huuskymam · 19/04/2019 17:15

Tell him to get one of those shower creme moisturisers. My 18 year old was thinking about doing them too, till we talked about the dangers of them.

Original poster
Tevion10 · 19/04/2019 17:15

Look plenty I can see how bad that looks but seriously you don't need to take your distress out on me.
If you want to advocate the risks do it nicely and sorry about your misfortune.

OP posts:
TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 19/04/2019 17:16

Well all his mates are using them so I guess thier parents are all idiots despite the fact we are talking about 18 year olds.

Yes, they absolutely are. The young men themselves and the parents too if they are condoning it and not saying: what the FUCK do you want to do that for?

Original poster
Tevion10 · 19/04/2019 17:17

I myself have never used a sunbed and I honestly have never read up on them I am also a sun avoider.

OP posts:
Plentyapollo · 19/04/2019 17:18

It’s not being bloody nasty... you seriously are deluded... it’s fear and incredulity about your lack of knowledge and your ability to try and twist the information you have been given by calling people out when you didn’t get the response you obviously wanted... this is a very serious medical situation NOW and as there is much more information with regard to diagnosis of skin cancer today there is a spike in the stats NOW... skin cancer is predicted to become one of the leading 3 cancers

Original poster
Tevion10 · 19/04/2019 17:19

I don't wanna do it one of the reasons I came on here.

OP posts: