Do you tan?

Contributor: SydVicious SydVicious
Hell No!!! I am fair skinned and I burn very easily. I can only imagine what kind of damage I would be doing to my skin if I tanned. Also, I don't want to look like an old leather handbag when I'm older.
02/21/2013
Contributor: spiced spiced
I spend a lot of time outdoors, so I'm usually tanned, even if it's just my face in the winter. I HATE sunscreen, and right or wrong, I've always figured it was worse for me than just getting out of the sun before I burn.

Starting about this time of year, I try to do some work in the yard every day in just shorts with no shirt so I get a nice all-over tan. But I never just lay around in the sun (much less a tanning booth). Too many other things to do!
04/20/2013
Contributor: SourAppleMartini SourAppleMartini
My skin is ridiculously pale and does tan at all. Tanning isn't healthy anyway, so no big deal.
04/20/2013
Contributor: gorgeous gorgeous
No, but I am super white lol
04/20/2013
Contributor: peachmarie peachmarie
I do not tan, tanning beds are cancer beds and the outside rays are very harsh on my skin, i'm like a little ghost. I blame it on my crippling allergies that i could not be outside as a child. I can't even have the window open in my car if someone is mowing grass or i'll have an allergy attack. Getting shots now but as an adult i'm kind of an inside sunless girl now.
04/20/2013
Contributor: Rokmai Rokmai
I bike and work in the garden a lot, but I'm still white as paper. But it's the midwest, so who cares?
04/20/2013
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
I do not tan intentionally. The risks are SO well known that it's like inviting cancer into your life, especially tanning beds.

When I was a child, not as much was known about skin cancer and the sun. I would play outside and get as brown as a nut. The last time I had a tan was when I was around 16 and worked at a baby pool at our park district and was outside all day, every day. Even sun screen couldn't prevent me from getting burned and then tan. I was so tan that summer I even got "ashy" from the dryness. (I'm Mediterranean, so I have the capability to get really dark, although my untanned skin is pale olive.)

Now, I always use sunscreen when going outside. I've seen patients with skin cancer and it's so awful.

My dad has had squamous cell skin cancer several times, not basal or melanoma. Squamous is easier to treat if caught early, he just had it removed via surgery. But, other forms of skin cancer, or if squamous metastasizes, is deadly. My dad not only tanned in the sun, but used a "sun lamp" (big in the 50s and 60s) to treat a serious acne problem. It resulted in several squamous cell sites when he was in his 50s and 60s. He's lucky he got it treated quickly, although squamous is the least serious when treated quickly (the patient rarely needs chemo or interferon.)

Melanoma and Basal Cell skin cancer are deadly and difficult to treat. They can and do kill many people every year.
04/20/2013
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Wicked Wahine
UVA & UVB rays have been proven to cause skin aging & cancer, but the chemical sunscreens have only been linked to cancer. Hmm, proven versus, linked. But as I explain in the following, it's only the chemical sunscreens that are linked to ... more
Thank you! Good information. (And I don't have to do it now. )

Also, using sun screen gives some people a false sense of security and they stay out in the sun too long, or don't reapply it after swimming, sweating or when time has passed.

I prefer the nanotec zinc or titanium oxide as I am allergic to the chemical screens.

Basically, nanoparticles are so small you don't see them. Not too long ago, Zinc Oxide was "the white stuff" that lifeguards put on their noses and was very conspicious. With new nanotechnology, the molecules are (insert science-ey stuff here) messed with, so they can't be seen with pigmentation. In other words, they don't look white and thick, like old fashioned zinc or titanium oxide sun screens. They work better, too.

Also, the belief that a "base tan" will protect you from skin cancer is a complete fallacy!
04/20/2013
Contributor: padmeamidala padmeamidala
Quote:
Originally posted by Beautiful-Disaster
Do you go tanning?
I tan outside sometimes but not for long periods of time.
04/20/2013
Contributor: Mr. John Mr. John
Quote:
Originally posted by Beautiful-Disaster
Do you go tanning?
Give me a little sunshine and I tan immediately.
04/20/2013
Contributor: Mellifer Mellifer
Quote:
Originally posted by KyotoAngel
I don't tan...I turn into a boiled lobster. xD
I prefer my skin to stay pale actually, but if I ever wanted a tan I'd just go get a spray tan or use one of those gradual self tanning lotions.
No melanoma causing sun (at least without ... more
It's good you know what works for you.
04/20/2013
Contributor: rosythorn rosythorn
I try to even out my tan when on the beach but doesn't really work. I try not to go out in the sun too much.
04/20/2013
Contributor: KinkyKatieJames KinkyKatieJames
I lay outside when I'm on vacation. I use sun screen, but I still tan. That's it though.
04/20/2013
Contributor: tweetybird0963t tweetybird0963t
I don't tan since I have very very fair skin. Even though I live in Florida, I try to stay out of the sun as much as possible. And considering I look young for my age and always have....I'm glad that not tanning will help my skin stay that way.
04/23/2013