To use a sunbed

[Listering]

How bad are they?
I'm asking because finally I seem to have a solution for my horrible back acne. I cured my face spots with roaccutane a few years ago, which was a horrible med to be on, but the only thing that worked. Nothing else is working on the back at all, but the sunbeds clear it up within days.
I've had about 5 so far, about one a week for 5 mins or less. I turn off the face tanner panel and cover my face with spf 50 and a couple of towels.
First time I ran with guilt to Space NK and the health shop for all the antioxidants I could find and pumped myself full of them.

Normally, mn has lots of rampant opinions and then someone knowledgeable who works in science can come along too. Please tell me wibu to use them for this sometimes.....?

Well my SIL who is a retired oncologist most certainly wouldn't recommend sun beds.

HTH

I used to use sunbeds for the exact same reason as you, I found it helpful for acne. However, then I developed a growth on my shoulder at 23 yrs old and let me tell you I'd take acne over the stress and worry and fear of that any day of the week. Thankfully it turned out to be harmless but that was the last time I set foot in a tanning salon. Go back to your gp for advice re: acne. I also used roaccutane and a lot of people need a second course for it to fully treat the problem.

Benzoyl peroxide is also an excellent topical, over-the-counter treatment for acne (including backne!) Just be mindful it will bleach clothes. You can get shower gel with it in and that works too, just a bit slower.

Once a week is really frequent. I’d be very worried. Can you ask your GP for any other recommendations? Or at least try some of the remedies suggested here first. If it came down to it I think I’d rather live with the acne. Your choice of course but don’t kid yourself about the risks.

Yes YABU although I sympathise with the acne.

I've just had a skin lesion removed from my thigh which appeared & slowly grew after getting a tan during a week in Mykonos (despite wearing spf30).

The surgeon took a chunk out & it's left an ugly scar.
Plus I'm waiting for the results.
So I don't recommend sunbathing or sunbeds.

If you hate the way your acne looks, you certainly won't like the way your face looks when chunks of it have to be cut away to remove skin cancers.

Also I may have misunderstood but I don’t see the relevance of putting SPF on your face if, as I assume, you’re not putting it on your back? Skin cancer can start anywhere.