Using Sunbeds to prevent sunburn

[inmynewera]

More Am I Being Ridiculous than Unreasonable.

I’ve always had fair skin.

When I was in my 20’s / early 30’s, I would thinking nothing of using a sunbed for a base tan before going on holiday or throughout the summer. Not a lot but maybe two or three times a week for a few weeks leading up to something.

Bit older and wiser and stopped using sunbeds for years now. What I’m finding though, is my skin is getting burnt more easily now. The last couple of trips abroad, I’ve religiously applied factor 50 every hour or so and burnt badly very quickly. This weekend with it being sunny, I sat outside with myself completely covered (where I was sat, there was no shade and I had a jacket with me), apart from a small part of my chest / neck was visible . I applied factor 50 and I’d say within 20-30 mins that small patch was burning.

So it’s not that I want to have an amazing tan, I would honestly just like to be able to sit in sunshine safely!

Do you think it’s ok to have a few sessions in a sunbed (stand up booths not lay down beds) to get the base tan and see if it helps my skin to not burn?

Or any other suggestions as sometimes it is just hot and sunny. My forearms felt like they were burning just from driving today!

I definitely feel like it’s getting worse too.

I would try use a different cream

Putting it on every hour is literally blocking your pores so you cant sweat

You are 100% damaging your skin. Any colour change means damage.

If people are finding creams don't work, UV clothing is a good option.

I wish they were illegal here. Some people just ignore the warnings and will suffer in the future as melanoma appears years later.

A tan is damage. A dermatologist who spent a lot ot time dealing with skin cancer once told me the only thing he saw with light skinned people who tanned was sun damage. If the prospect of skin cancer doesn't scare you, the joke about sunbeds being automatic aging machines might. Whatever time you spent on a sunbed will eventually be reflected in your face - not immediately - but inevitably.

I happen to live in the country with the second highest rate of skin cancer in the world. I am very light skinned - Irish pale - and factor 50 should work. I am assuming it's not expired, you've shaken it if required and its not been left to bake in a car glovebox and most important of all, you've used enough of the stuff. I usually try to team it with a hat to protect around my hairlines, partings etc.

Has your diet changed much? Skin resilience to the sun can be affected by what we eat.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6117694/

I am extremely fair. I do not do well in the sun and spent most of my childhood getting hideously burnt being on the beach. All my school friends were basting themselves with baby oil - in direct sun - I could never tan. I was so envious but I am thankful
now. Apart from the fact that ‘sunbathing’ boils my brain and I get really uncomfortable, I found it so boring. I actually prefer being ‘pale and interesting’. À friend that visited recently (tropical country EXTREMELY fierce sun) was out at midday with Factor 4 !! I didn’t know that even existed ! I wear a hat, use a parasol, seek shade. My friend looks like a leather bag. I don’t.

The factor 50 is a bit of a red herring. If you burn easily then you burn easily. It is only 1% stronger than factor 30.

The reason you are probably burning now is due tot he damage you did to your skin years ago.

Get some actual skin block.

Don't go out in the sunniest part of the day and cover up.

I have burned through windows, in the shade and even through clothing.

Ok, ok I’m definitely persuaded on the sunbeds, will not be happening.

I do wear a hat and the sun protection I use is P20 and new each summer so not old or cheap.

I think from reading though, it sounds like age / peri may be the answer for the change in how my skin is in the sunshine.

As someone with stage 4 melanoma caused by burns when I was a child. I’d say this is the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard in my entire life. However it’s your life and your cancer.

Has your sunblock got a five star uv block on it as a lot of them are only 3 star?
I wouldn’t consider going on a sunbed having just had a big operation on my face for skin cancer removal last year,I’ve spent my life avoiding the sun as I’m very fair.
I avoid sitting in the sun and wear a hat and use a good sunblock

I don't actually eat any kind of meat, haven't done for over 50 years, never smoked, little alcohol and mostly cook from scratch.... home grown fruit and veg. My late father had skin cancer, also a blue eyed blond, and it increases your risk.

I suspect you aren't using anywhere near enough of it. Perhaps a cheaper one you can use more liberally. As a pale redhead I'm well into my second bottle already this year.

I think different brands work differently on different people - I used to find Nivea didn’t work great for me as I had to keep reapplying, but Tesco own “Soleil” range has been really good and I have no issues wearing it for 4-5 hours a day (reapplying once halfway through).

A lot of the women I know in their 50s have permanently red chests, thin papery and pink looking skin from their necks down. I think a lot of the damage doesn’t show up until later on and you might regret it.

Just cover up.

I’m currently being treated for skin cancer- it ain’t worth it.

This is correct.
You know all those crows feet, 11s and forehead lines? All directly related to sun exposure. See also brown pigment patches, extra moles and various other blemishes.
Also, once the wrinkles are there, no cream on earth is going to get rid of them.
Just cover up. It's not difficult.

I often see people with small bottles of designer suncream applying it as though it were liquid gold.