Tan or not? That is the question!

[billsmrs]

Ok..here is a good summer question. Tanning. Yes or no? Do you think you have to be tan to look good or not? Do you or have you ever tried any of the 'bottle' tans?

I am pale. When I was younger I use to think I had to be tan or else.... now that I am older I could care less. Not to mention the fact that I worked in oncology for a year and after seeing what cancer does it sure made me realize I don't want that!

I have tried the tans in a bottle. I didnt' really care for them. I figure people like me for who I am not what I look like so who cares! Besides that my skin will still look nice when everyone else has skin that looks like leather or looks 10 years older than what they are. Know?!

I have been told I have porcelain doll skin. I think I will keep it that way!

[AtlantaGAL]

I feel better when I have some color. I think I look healthier also. So I tan, but I work on it using higher sunblocks at first and then weaning down to 4 and 8 SPF once I have a base tan.

[JillyB71]

I tried to tan when I was younger but ended up getting burned, even in the tanning booths. After I found skin cancer, I was told by my dermatologist to stay out of the sun unless I have sunblock on. I have tried the bottle stuff but it either gets on everything or makes me look dirty...so I guess I will stay blindingly white for the rest of my life!!

What ticks me off is that everyone else in my family is dark due to Cherokee blood. Did I get any of that? NOOOO!!!!! I have too much Irish in me. I did get the cheekbones though so I guess it's a good trade!!

[dlabrie708]

I am also pale, so I use the bottle tan stuff. I have been using Clarins brand [depart. store] tanning milk. It is great!!! It is so darn expensive though. My mother recently asked me what she could get me for my birthday and I told her the tanning milk...lol. She really didn't want to get me THAT for a gift, but I told her that I would have to buy a lot of it this summer and I could really use it. Well, when we went out to lunch a few days after my birthday with my sisters, I showed them what she bought me for my birthday....I just held out my arms...lol!

5 years ago I had a melanoma removed. It was a small mole on my back and I didn't think much about it. Well, now I get checked twice a year and I don't go in the sun without protection. I also use an umbrella at the beach now. My life is more important than a tan. I was only 30 when I had it removed, so it was really shocking. That's why I love the tanning stuff!!!

Lori

[JillyB71]

Originally posted by dlabrie708
5 years ago I had a melanoma removed. It was a small mole on my back and I didn't think much about it. Well, now I get checked twice a year and I don't go in the sun without protection. I also use an umbrella at the beach now. My life is more important than a tan. I was only 30 when I had it removed, so it was really shocking. That's why I love the tanning stuff!!!

Lori

I had what's called a squamous cell carcinoma on my face 3 years ago when I was 28. It was about nickle size on my right cheek. Dermatologist told me she normally only sees those on women in their 40's and 50's. Apparently, because of all the exposure I had as a kid, my skin is pretty damaged. So from now on my life is more important than a tan also.

[wifey1227]

After being a sunworshipper my whole young life and living all summer on the water at our lake cottage, I would have said tan. 5 years ago I got skin cancer and after several minor surgeries to remove it from my FACE I now am just fine with the porcelain skin look....

[beautybar]

When I was younger we spent our entire summers laying out by the pool. I got burned, baked, tanned, blistered and fried and even layed out on top of our roof with foil and cooking oil. I have sunspots on my chest now from all of this and it tends to give you lots of freckles! If you like freckles then go for it. My response would be If you really need a real tan and dont want to use the creams for all of your tanning needs, get a good base tan in one of those newer beds that cost 20.00 a session, and then use the cream to keep your tan up. That way you are not getting too burnt by the uv rays and you can put lots of sunscreen on to protect your skin when you go to the beach or pool or whatever. I live in Ca. and it always seemed like if you were not tan then you werent living. I think people kind of dont look at it that way anymore but I still prefer to be tan during the summer and I go to the 99 cent store and buy the Bannana boat self tanning creme. Still waiting for my freebie tan creme, I heard its a thimble full so I wont hold my breath!

[LocaChica]

wow. So far 3 of you have had skin cancer Isn't it too bad that it takes something like that to get us (in general) to take care of ourselves?

My skin is light and I don't like it, but I live with it. I'm not about to damage it by lying in the sun or in a booth to get some color. It's probably already damaged from being exposed to the sun as a kid. My mom never had us wear sunscreen. Don't know if it was too expensive or if she didn't think about it, it was never brought up. When I want color, I'll go for the tan in a can. I recently tried Neutrogena Instant Bronze. I LOVE IT!! Goes on instantly (as the name says), dries quickly, and it doesn't smell bad.

[bdinalbq]

I have a double whammy when it comes to tanning, because I live in the Sun Belt and am an avid swimmer, with kids that love to spend time at the pool. Around here, regardless of whether you choose to actively "tan" or not, you get tan just being outside gardening, walking the dog or running errands. I have naturally olive skin, no freckles and do not burn easily, use sunscreen and still get very dark just due to the amount of time I spend outside.

Like AG, I feel GOOD when I am darker, and I love the sun. It's like a battery to charge up my soul...AG would probably say it's cause my sun sign is a Leo, and I'm a summer baby, and maybe she'd be right. Whatever the reason, I'm a sunlover and yes, I check for moles and stuff all the time..so far, so good. And I'm not even wrinkled (yet!).

[AtlantaGAL]

Originally posted by bdinalbq
I have a double whammy when it comes to tanning, because I live in the Sun Belt and am an avid swimmer, with kids that love to spend time at the pool. Around here, regardless of whether you choose to actively "tan" or not, you get tan just being outside gardening, walking the dog or running errands. I have naturally olive skin, no freckles and do not burn easily, use sunscreen and still get very dark just due to the amount of time I spend outside.

Like AG, I feel GOOD when I am darker, and I love the sun. It's like a battery to charge up my soul...AG would probably say it's cause my sun sign is a Leo, and I'm a summer baby, and maybe she'd be right. Whatever the reason, I'm a sunlover and yes, I check for moles and stuff all the time..so far, so good. And I'm not even wrinkled (yet!).

Pretty much the same story here. No matter what... if you're outside at all, you will get some color.

I am not a sun worshipper like I was as a teen. I have limited exposure (maybe 4 hours a week, spread out between 3 days) and watch my skin pretty closely. I also have a bit of olive to my skin tone, so I tan and rarely burn. In addition, my mother always put sunblock on me as a child. And as both a teen and an adult, I have/do wear it.

Tanning booths are the real bad thing. Not that the sun isn't bad, but tanning booths are so much worse. I have not been to one of those in probably 11 years. And even when I used to use them occaisionally, it was only to help develop the base tan just before summer hit or to prolong my tan a little once summer ended.

And like you, so far so good. No wrinkles either

[dlabrie708]

I'm not surprised by how many people have had cancerous moles removed. My dermatologist said that skin cancer is so on the rise, that about 50% of all his new patients have some form of it. Even my dh had a mole removed that was pre-cancerous. Obviously not as serious, but in time...it would be. I would like to take this opportunity to suggest to everyone to go get checked by a dermatologist [not your doctor] at least once. I really didn't think my little mole was anything serious and was shocked when it was the worst. Trust me, skin cancer sneaks up on you. Most of the time, it doesn't even look bad.

Tanning booths always scared me. Anything that cooks you from the inside out just doesn't sound right to me...lol!

I'm telling you, I really love my tanning cream. This one looks so natural and I have been getting so many compliments about what a nice tan I have...lol! If they only knew...hee hee.

Lori

[freesurfer]

Originally posted by wifey1227
After being a sunworshipper my whole young life and living all summer on the water at our lake cottage, I would have said tan. 5 years ago I got skin cancer and after several minor surgeries to remove it from my FACE I now am just fine with the porcelain skin look....

I didn't know this!!

[3tbear]

I agree, tanning is very bad for the skin, and it will cause your skin to look tough, leathery years later, so I don't tan. I bring an umbrella to the beach, sit under it. I've seen the effects of tanning on older women, and I certainly don't want my skin to look like that. I'd like my skin to stay soft and supple and I don't want to have to worry about skin cancer when I am older. Won't even go to tanning salons, they are even more dangerous than being out in the actual sun.

[ihvfaith]

Okay I never tan!!!
I am white as white can be.
I do burn real easy and have
looked like a tomatoe.
Even has a kid I had to wear long sleeve
shirts over swim suits. Had hats on.
Looked like a real geek
I have red hair, white skin and
a few freckles.
At least it is not orange red.

[whitequeen96]

I used to think it was necessary to be tan, when I was a teenager. However, I stopped that quite a while ago, partly because I was just too busy, and because I JUST HATE LYING IN THE SUN! I think it's torture; too hot, too boring (even when I'm reading), too sweaty! Now I just accept that I will be pale for the rest of my life. But I'm of Irish heritage, and pale is my natural state, so there's nothing wrong with that. Plus, I have no wrinkles at all (not even crow's feet or laugh lines), and I'm 47 years old! (However, the rest of me is not so hot! LOL!)