Sunbed Shock

[SansaStark90]

I’ve been really stupid and gone on the sunbed for twenty minutes and the burns I’ve got - I’ve never seen skin as red. I’ve got like indents to my skin as though I’ve woken to stretch marks on my chest. Will these disappear? I’m in agony. I’ve never burnt and so didn’t know it could cause this kind of pain. I’m shaking shivering. I did this yesterday. Can someone reassure my health anxiety that these indents will all calm down?

I used to go on these things in my early 20’s for around 20 minutes a time after I’d built up to it. That was in the 80’s though. Don’t think I would now.

Oh my god. What is wrong with people. Anyone who uses a sunbed is an idiot.

You need to call 111. I thought 5-6 minutes was the standard amount even for already tanned skin!

Someone who has severe health anxiety wouldn't go and sit on a sunbed for 20 minutes, surely?

It's also not about freaking her out - melanoma in particular is really hard to spot and can be fatal, she needs to know what to look for and what kind of danger she's put herself in.

Christ get yourself some medical attention asap OP. You’ve literally burnt your skin so badly it’s gonna blister. You’ve will need medical attention

Sunbeds should be banned in my opinion. Stupid things

OP with Irish skin you should be going for 6-9mins max. I’m extremely pale and even 6m makes me uncomfortable. I’m amazed how you actually lasted inside that long. But I’m not going to lecture you as you’ve had enough of that.

I will absolutely direct you to a doctor of some sort. That’s bad.

She shouldn't be going at all - and neither should you!

Head to urgent care / A&E.

I'm not medical. But for burns....

Drink lots of water. Take a cool shower- pat your skin dry- do not rub with a towel it will hurt. Your skin will be hot. It will feel tight. If you scratch, it will hurt. Don't put creams on til after you have seen Dr. Dress in loose fitting clothes. Avoid waistbands as this will hurt.

The little white dots are part of the blistering process. So you will need to go to Dr as they will show you how to dress them and prevent infection. If you are worried about scarring - I would go to the Dr now to know how to treat (and importantly to assess for sunstroke / dehydration).

It's good that you are taking responsibility for your actions, but the blame doesn't entirely lie at your feet. The shop staff have a responsibility to provide accurate and safe advice, and to keep you safe. Especially as a first time user. Regardless of whether or not the member of staff was a young, inexperienced person. You should absolutely be letting the shop owners know.

Also, DO NOT POP THE BLISTERS!! No matter how tempted you are, don’t do it. It will introduce infection

Please just go and get seen at the hospital op. They are not there to judge you, burns can be so dangerous.

I had no idea that you could just set your own times on these.

When I used one some years ago-about 30+! the timer was set for you & you had a book that t was written into!

Hi @SansaStark90
Firstly, you made a mistake and you won’t do it again!
I had similar many years ago in my early 20’s. It was like sunburn; it burnt, hot to touch and eventually calmed and the skin peeled.
15 years+ later I’m still here and no long term health effects.
Keep yourself and the skin hydrated x

Hi, hoping you have taken people's advice and asked for some help. Even if you're too embarrassed to go to A&E, you could ring 111; they can either advise you on self care or tell you if you really need to be seen. Please just get some medical advice.

Have you taken some paracetamol for pain relief? I think aloe vera and natural yogurt are recommended to get the heat out of the skin. Tepid water, not cold applied to the skin too. The shivering that you describe does sound like you have heat stroke.

No long-term effects yet.

If you’ve spent 20 minutes on a tanning bed then you need to go to hospital - they are so, so dangerous and you’ve been really stupid.

Police won’t help with this!

Go to A&E now to get treatment before you get too poorly. If you’re body is in shock you can get worse and you may get sepsis if you’re burns become infected.

Once you’ve looked after yourself - get that place shut down. And all other sun bed places too if possible!

honestly I can’t believe these things are legal

You need to treat this like you would a burn.

I would seek medical advice. You essentially have first and second degree burns on 80% of your body. It's about the size of the burn as well as the degree. A&E have this amazing cream that will numb it instantly - or at least they did 15 years ago when I spilt a kettle over my hand!

OP you can go to A&E if you're feeling very shaky - and can't stop shaking - and they will give you a cortisone shot to calm the inflammation down. It's a steroid designed to reduce the overall inflammation you're experiencing. Your skin is your biggest organ and right now it's under quite a bit of stress. Don't go in the bath with cool water, it will just dry the skin further.

Is the burn across your entire body? If yes, it may be wise to go straight away to A&E and ask for help.

You could also phone your out of hours GP or 111 and ask them for advice.

A burn like this can cause massive dehydration and delirium. I got burnt like this when I was 10 and vomitted quite a few times, had terrible dreams and my skin absolutely killed for a few days.

Over the next few days try to take high levels of vitamin C to reduce the oxidative stress and damage you will have caused your skin.

Eat the rainbow, lots and lots of cooked and raw brightly coloured veg and fruit, this will also help.

I once burnt my skin on a sun bed in my teens. Went on for 12 minutes first time and it literally smelt like burnt flesh. 😫Put some natural yoghurt in the fridge and slaver it on. It did end up peeling.
If you feel dizzy or signs of sunstroke I would get medical advice. Hope you’re feeling better soon!

DON'T GO IN THE WATER - you may get a cellulitis. This is bad news. Keep your skin dry. It will only dry it further if you bathe.

I also have white porcelain Irish skin and I don't tan. Please, there is no point using a sunbed ever. You won't tan. I tried too in my 20s and it just gave me more freckles... We don't have enough melanin in our skin. Sunbeds will however long term give you skin cancer.

Use fake tan if you ever want a tan from now on, it's much safer.

I have been that badly burnt in the sun outside in the past (teenager, long story but the factor 50 promised turned out to be factor fucking 4 and a bottle two years out of date. Lesson learned, supply own suncream, don't holiday with friends who won't let you leave the beach!)...

end of day 1, agony, red, swelling. Day 2, threw up spectacularly, swollen hands and feet, end of day 2 blistering started to appear. Day 2 more agony, swelling, blistering, peeling..

Was left with scars where skin is thinner (cleavage/chest) and where blisters were deeper (across my shoulders).

Took weeks to heal and a lot of disgusting skin peeling. I could not stand to shower or bath for a good week following the burns either, it felt like my skin was being ripped off me.

Ibuprofen, paracetamol and shitloads of water, electrolyte drinks and keeping very very still, indoors, with as little (super soft) clothing as possible.

I would also speak to the shop, yes you shouldn't have been on for 20 minutes but also there is no way it should have been possible for you to do that!