Sunbeds

Would never ever use one and can't understand why anyone would tbh

"Sunbeds give out ultraviolet (UV) rays that increase your risk of developing skin cancer. Many sunbeds give out greater doses of UV rays than the midday Mediterranean sun. Sunbeds, sunlamps and tanning booths give out the same type of harmful radiation as sunlight. UVA rays make up about 95% of sunlight. They can cause your skin to age prematurely, making it look coarse, leathery and wrinkled. UVB rays make up about 5% and cause your skin to burn. A tan is your body's attempt to protect itself from the damaging effect of UV rays. Using a sunbed to get a tan isn't safer than tanning in the sun. You can't always see the damage that UV rays cause. The symptoms of skin damage can take up to 20 years to appear"

Sorry for the massive copy and paste. It's my opinion that they should be avoided at all cost - there are lots of good ways to fake tan. My favourite is a moisturiser with a hint of fake tan in it, it builds up your tan without the streaky or 'fake' look.

I know someone who is currently going through topical chemotherapy for recurring malignant melanomas, so...no, not for me either.

I used to use them, several years ago. Then when all the warnings came out, I stopped straight away. I was never a regular user, Just did it for a few months over one summer. Since then I have used the garnier moisturiser that has a hint of tan in it. It smells lovely (apricots!) and provides a nice cover. It gradually builds up and doesnt look really fake, its not orange.

Controversially I do use them. Not every week, just before I go on holiday and will in the run up to the wedding. I always put sun cream on my face though and use a Clinique self tan on that.

I have quite bad skin and I find it helps clear it up a bit too which is a bonus.

If you wouldn't use a Sunbed, would you never sunbathe on holiday either? Is there a difference?

I find this too. I also get some kind of feel-good factor from having been on them, like the lights and heat affect me somehow and lift my mood.

Yes I do too. I like my few mins in the warm and have a little quiet think to myself! I think I'm a SAD sufferer. I'm practically a different person in the summer!

I always have one sunbed course a year. It's not even for a tan. When it's damper time of year around spring not winter my joints suffer massively due to arthritis. It really helps far more than a hot water bottle or anything. Never more than one corse a year though.

To be honest its been about 5 years since I have been on holiday (which times in with the last time I used sunbeds too). I have olive skin so I colour very easily in the sun, even in the UK though I make sure I wear a good factor suncream and regularily reapply it. I get bored sunbathing, so never actively persued that as an activity. Which is why I did like sunbeds, alot of colour in only a few mins! However since the warnings and since knowing people affected with skin cancer I make sure I take time and care to cover up my skin in the sun and use cream.

But is the concentration of the rays from a sunbed not higher than from the sun (as per mrs monkey's post).

I do sunbathe on holiday but I wear a high factor suncream because I'm fair. That's also for 2 weeks at the most per year, normally less and for some of that time I'll be inside/in the shade/covered up

A huge no.

Why take the risk?

My mother died from a malignant melanoma when she was 27 years old. She fell asleep whilst sunbathing once and that's all it took.

Not worth dying for fashion in my opinion. (Even though I love the actual sun and the outdoors, I wouldn't use a sunbed)

Wickywack how terribly terribly sad ☹️

I don't use them but certainly don't judge those who use them occasionally for holiday prep and such. Everyone can make their own choices about their own health. The last person who lectured me about my lax attitude to sunbeds (how can you not care that people are killing themselves?) did so with a large white wine in one hand and a cigarette in the other....

?❤️

That is so sad. I'm sorry to hear that.

For me personally, I wouldn't. But then I have no desire to be tan, I like to remain as pale as possible. Maybe if I did want to be tan I'd feel differently.

I've used them a few times in the past but never will again.

My dad used to use them a bit when he was younger and over the last few years he's had to have a few cancerous bits removed from his back (very technical term). He thinks it's down to the sunbed usage.

I wouldn't use one, and always cover up with SPF when I am out in the sun. I am starting to see sun damage on my nose, even though I use sun block as moisturiser and my Nan had a malignant mole removed from her shoulder when I was a teenager from years of sunbathing.

I use them, usually a one or two hour course once a year before I go on my first holiday of the year, and I sunbathe when I am away as well.

I am naturally fair and can burn quite easily so I gradually build my sunbeds up to a maximum of 8 minutes each time and then when I go on holiday I use a minimum of factor 30 and re-apply regularly. I find this stops me from burning when I am on holiday. At home I use SPF 30 on my face every day and use sun cream on exposed skin if I am out in the sun for any length of time during the summer.

I know the risks, but like others have said, we all make choices with regards to our lifestyle and health, and I dont judge others for their choices so dont expect to be judged for mine.

I think it's like everything, need to be used in moderation and safely.

I hate seeing the girls going in with their skin like leather and ageing themselves, but there are people who use them once in a while for a short time with lots of lotion on and think it's no different to getting a holiday and lying on the beach sunbathing.

I don't use them personally but on a sunny day I whack on the sun cream and go to the beach and don't completely cover up so not sure how much different that is.

My bridesmaid has been getting a few on the odd occasion trying to get a bit of colour before the wedding and a mutual friend was ranting at her about it. The BM doesn't drink / smoke and is pretty healthy otherwise and the mututal friend drinks like a fish, smokes and practically lives on takeaways so not sure what right she has to preach about one thing and ignore another, it's a funny thing I suppose and a subject that always gets people talking anyway.

Never used one, never will. Seen way too much cancer in my family to take the risk. I tan very easily so always wear high-factor suncreams when I'm out and about, even in the UK.

Wickywack - huge hugs xxxx

I have never used a sunbed and I don't sunbathe as I get bored. I'm more of an adventure/activity girl. Sometimes i worry that I get carried away with whatever i am doing and forget to topup suncream, which I think people tend to be more aware of if they're sunbathing. I don't have any issues with other people using them, they're just not for me and I would be concerned about my skin.

Hugs to you wicky wack. That's a really sad story ?

I usually have a couple before a big event (birthdays weddings etc) because I have bad skin and it makes me feel better with a healthy glow. I

U also use them before going on holiday. They help desensitise my skin stopping me getting burnt while on holiday (which must be a good thing)

like most things in life I think they are ok in moderation.

I tried to use one many years ago, I think it must have been before all the health warnings came out as I never would now, knowing the risks. It was so tight in there I felt like I was standing in a coffin. I burn easily nowadays so wouldn't ever try again.

So sorry Wickywack xx

It's a difficult one, I do agree with everything in moderation, and I suppose I can't really judge someone for using a sunbed twice a year when I'll happily sit out in the sun on holiday (granted, with sun cream on). I do have an issue with excessive sunbed use/sunbathing though - my mum is obsessed with sunbathing and even if you ignore the cancer risk her skin is really leathery and it has really aged her. So it's pretty counterproductive for people who are doing it to look good.

I use them before and after a holiday. I am dark skinned so don't burn easily and I don't normally wear sun tan lotion unless it is very hot or I am abroad.

I wouldn't use them regularly though. I understand the risks involved but I also understand that I drink too much and eat all the wrong foods too so it's another lifestyle choice IMO.

Wickywack- hugs, that is awful.

No, I really don't understand why people take the risk to be honest. A friend of mine loves it and her auntie had one in her house, I think it's really risky and you are setting yourself up to potentially risky health complications. I know what you're saying about lifestyle choices and maybe that has something to do with it but then I rarely drink and don't smoke either.

I'm pale and I don't mind, I sit out in the summer a lot to read or do the garden or out walking but usually in the shade and covered in a high factor sun cream. I wouldnt specifically go out to sunbathe or get a tan. I've been burnt a few times either falling asleep or forgetting so I'm extra careful. My legs don't tan at all, I tried using the build up tan and I went orange!

No, never. I don't sunbathe either. I am really pale and burn very easily, so have a high risk of skin cancer, plus I already look older than I am (not fair!) which all just makes it not worth it. I don't enjoy lying out in the sun, I would either be in the shade or occasionally swimming (plus suncream before and after).

It doesn't make me look "healthier" either - on the rare occasions where I have had enough prolonged exposure with suncream to make me tan a tiny bit without burning, I just look a bit dirty. I certainly don't glow.

It's people's own choice to go if they are aware of the risks, but I do think some people delude themselves about how "sexy" a tan is, or how bad they look without one.

My thoughts exactly. I don't use them often, l hate fake tan and it helps my eczema.

Sorry to hear about your Mum Wickywack ☹️

Like many on here, I will use them, but only for therapeutic purposes.

I have chronic atopic eczema and several years ago my specialist prescribed a 4 week UV light therapy course of treatment. the problem was that due to the location of my nearest available therapy centre and the treatment times available this 'Free' NHS treatment was going to cost me 2 and a half grand in lost income, petrol costs, toll road charges and parking. I asked the specialist if there was an alternative and he suggested sun beds.

For me it is the lesser of 2 evils, and I always stick to the usage 'prescribed' by my doctor, 3 minutes 3 times a week for 4 weeks with a minimum gap of 3 months in between. Truthfully it works wonders for me, and I usually only need 1 course a year in the winter.

I don't sunbathe, and I wear factor 30+ daily regardless of the season as here in NZ the ozone is renowned for being quite thin. It may make me seem like a hypocrite, but having seen several sad cases of skin cancer and heard countless warnings I would advise against the use of them for purely cosmetic purposes. But equally, I'm not in a position to preach or judge.