Tanning vs. sunless... (salon, dangerous, health)

[lisalive73]

Ok so recently I had a birthday (somewhere in my 30's) and decided I no longer want to sun my face but want to maintain a healthy looking tan. I am wondering what alternatives are best, what are your thoughts?

I heard airbrush tanning is all the rage now, does anyone have any feedback? I tried the booth - IT WAS CRAP!

[uconn99]

Fake tanning in a booth is just as bad as being outside.

[NytoPhx]

Originally Posted by uconn99

Fake tanning in a booth is just as bad as being outside.

Maybe so on a per-minute basis, but one is in a tanning salon typically for 15 minutes at a time, hopefully not more than once or twice a week. One who prefers to tan naturally is constantly exposed and in the sun for hours at a time. This is also highly dependent on where the outside is. In Florida or the caribbean the sun is probably more dangerous than a tanning bed, possibly in Arizona also.

[NytoPhx]

Also, I can't quite put my finger on it, but I never seem to get sun-burnt out here like I did back east, especially in Florida. There are few clouds and this is a pretty southerly latitude, but I never get that beat red sunburned, and that's without lotion.

[frogandtoad]

Originally Posted by uconn99

Fake tanning in a booth is just as bad as being outside.

It's way worse. I don't think the idea of putting chemicals all over your skin time after time is a good idea....there must be some consequences to that. Bad ones.

Laying out for hours on end in the sun isn't a good idea, but if you go for walks or jog or something for exercise, it will be enough to keep that "healthy glow" without ruining your skin with excess sun and without letting chemicals seep into your skin day after day.

IMO there is nothing wrong with the sun. I think sunscreen, tanning creams, etc. will be found to put one at greater risk than the sun. Obviously you don't want to fry yourself or lay out for hours day after day, but limited sun exposure when you don't burn (but do "get color")? I'm a believer there is nothing wrong with that at all.

Plus you'll make the Vitamin D you need (supplements have been shown not to produce the needed benefit--you have to get it directly from being in the sun. True only a few minutes are needed for it in pale folks, yet many still don't get it b/c they cover themselves with sunscreen and block the needed rays to produce it. If you're darker skinned, you'd need much more (many Africans need up to 3 solid hours of sun a day to produce the needed Vt. D).

[twiggy]

If your worried about wrinkels then I wouldn't. You get enough sun exposure here on a daily basis to get those unless you wear a hat and googles all day. lol
You know, pale is in so why not just enjoy it.
If you really want a tan, frogandtoad is right, just go for a walk everyday and wa la just like a tanning bed, year around color!

[dc1225]

Originally Posted by NytoPhx

Also, I can't quite put my finger on it, but I never seem to get sun-burnt out here like I did back east, especially in Florida. There are few clouds and this is a pretty southerly latitude, but I never get that beat red sunburned, and that's without lotion.

this is true...I would be all beat red like i got sunburned but the next day,I'd glow like j lo...that's one thing I liked about phx sun, I never burn there for some reason!

[dc1225]

Originally Posted by NytoPhx

Maybe so on a per-minute basis, but one is in a tanning salon typically for 15 minutes at a time, hopefully not more than once or twice a week. One who prefers to tan naturally is constantly exposed and in the sun for hours at a time. This is also highly dependent on where the outside is. In Florida or the caribbean the sun is probably more dangerous than a tanning bed, possibly in Arizona also.

yeah but I thought I read somewhere that the tanning booth bulbs are like 10x worse than the actual sun, not that either is any good for your skin at all which is why I limit my tanning to once or twice a month

[azkylady2]

spent my share of time in tanning booths, It is in my personal opinion that natural sun in moderation is the best way to go, we need some exposure for Vitamin D. The Doctor told me they are seeing lots more women with calcium deficiency due to the big push for wearing sunscreen when ever you step outside the house. I believe tanning beds might be most of the problem with skin cancers. I am not saying to lay out in the sun for hours on end. moderations the key word. I think its silly to be acting like we all can't let the sun touch us, and need to cover ourselves from head to toe in sunscreens.

[Cida]

Actually, I'll hold out hope that if you're somewhere in your 30s, you will wise up and give up the concept of a "healthy looking" tan. Have you seen the latest studies on skin cancer?