To tan or not to tan, that is the question...

[LastOrders]

I'm off to a family members wedding in June, I've not been to a wedding in about 10 years (yes, really) so I'm very excited and looking forward to buying a dress, accessories, shoes etc. But I'm very pasty, quite a large girl (size 18, but working on it...) and not very style concious. I live in jeans and converse - say nomore...

I know that if I'm going to pull off a dress then I need to sort out my milky white skin, esp my legs.

I'm not a lover of spray tans, have had them in the past and they've come out blotchy and streaked.

If I have a few sunbeds a week from now until then will I be doing massive damage?

I've used them in the past, and like the colour I turn, but am worried by the scaremongers.

Anyone else go on the tubes and would I be ok for a few from now till June, just to get that overall feelgood factor?

I wouldn't use sunbeds.

After every btah or shower i put on Dove with a hint of sun mosturiser, it does the job

Wipes are easy to use, btw.

Do you use a face one?

I have used them in the past but never the face one. Worried it will look orange/streaky.

ooh no face ones are awful, very orangey. If you do use a face one mix it in with your regular one and then apply, to 'water' it down.

LOL once i just put it all on and i had to scrub my face so bad the next mornign so i could go out

Oh and wash your hands after

St tropez everyday mist is very good and not orange or blotchy at all.Scrub yourself first and it will be fine

I love using a sunbed, so I'd definately go that option. Nothing better for perking up your mood and how you look than all those UV rays ;)

I can't wait to go tanning again. I'd be there now but I think being pregnant I'd pass out. I can't cope with how hot they make me.

why not have a few sessions on the bed just to get you going? You know there will be loads of scaremongering here....don't you? so go with what you feel is right.

I use a self tan moisturiser but only because even a sunbed wouldn't tan my blue-pink shaded skin!!

You will look fab with a tan

Oh yes, hands are the big give away.

Do they all smell of stale wee still?

ummm, possibly biscuitty.

I've braced myself for the scaremongering!

I've bedded in the past at a very good trustworthy salon, but its recently closed and all thats left are pay as you go ones. I get worried about there checks/standards.

I do agree with you Geepers, the sunbeds used to make me feel perked and healthy.

I may go for a few, just to see, you know...

Oh yes, sunbeds are great for perking you up

How is it "scaremongering" to point out the risks?

Invest in a quality fake tan or a professional spray tan. Melanoma isn't attractive at all.

To be honest, pale skin is perfectly acceptable now and sun beds - are they really worth the risk??? I have the johnsons holiday sun for light/med skin and use it very rarely but find that just 2/3days use is enough. I have average skin that tans quite easily, but since having my dd, has got very sensitive so i am a lot more careful about tanning etc

Agree with soupdragon no sunbeds sooo dangerous

All tans are evidence that you have damaged your skin. There is no such thing as a safe tan.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't tan if you want to, but just don't convince yourself it is safe.

A St Tropez fake tan applied by a beautician = a lovely colour

Sunbeds = skin damage

I always remember the first patient I met with a melanoma - she was a regular user of sunbeds

The first person I met who had had melanoma wasn't a sunbed user. He is my ex h's husband and, as two blond, blue-eyed Germans who grew up around some of Europe's finest beaches, they were both big into water sports and swimming but not so vigilant about sunscreen.

When J was 27, ten years ago, he went to see a doctor about persistent verrucas, and the first thing that doc said was, 'How long have you had that mole on your neck?'

He was lucky, the melanoma was caught early and there was no recurrence or spread.

But he's practically a walking sandwich board warning to all and sundry about the dangers of excess sun exposure.

But are 5-8 goes on a sunbed from now until june harming, as opposed to 5-8 goes a week? (I have a friend who used to work for Spearmint Rhino, she said her 2 daily sessions were warranted )

I know that any exposure is bad exposure, but would a few times before June not just be the equivilant of a couple of days out in the sun?

I'm not saying I'll def go for sessions, I just am unsure what a few sessions is the equivilant to in terms of real sun exposure.