so why and how did you stop? i know tanning is bad but i always end up going back to it and at 28, i'm seeing lots of sun damage. i think i actually have an addiction to it. the sunless tanners just don't cut it for me either. i really want to just be happy with my pale skin. any advice?
ex-tanners
- Thread starter kariev
- Start date
Govtgirl
Cathlete
Even if you don't get cancer (and i know it's hard for people to imagine that it could happen to them) one thing for sure, you will most definately get thick, leathery, wrinkled skin and look 10-20 years older than you are. There's no doubt about that, it will happen with unprotected tanning guaranteed.
When I lived in Spain I went to a topless beach (I stayed covered!) and BOY-OH-BOY, you ought to see what the sun does to boobs!
That'll cure you fast of wanting to tan! Basically now, I just don't care it. I'm fit and healthy, and not out to impress anyone. Besides, if you walk around with pale skin, nobody else will give a rip. People are too busy concentrating on themselves. Seriously, did you ever look at somebody and think, "they should really get a tan?"
Just curious, I wonder what Cathe and the girls do? If it's tanning beds, self tanners or makeup? I could never get that tan, no matter what method!
When I lived in Spain I went to a topless beach (I stayed covered!) and BOY-OH-BOY, you ought to see what the sun does to boobs!
That'll cure you fast of wanting to tan! Basically now, I just don't care it. I'm fit and healthy, and not out to impress anyone. Besides, if you walk around with pale skin, nobody else will give a rip. People are too busy concentrating on themselves. Seriously, did you ever look at somebody and think, "they should really get a tan?"Just curious, I wonder what Cathe and the girls do? If it's tanning beds, self tanners or makeup? I could never get that tan, no matter what method!
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Liann
Cathlete
I took a good look at the other ladies coming out of the tanning rooms. Most of them were so overtanned and leathered that they looked a good 20 years older than they really were. They also seemed completely oblivious to the fact that they were an ungodly shade of radioactive orange and I realized there must be something mentally wrong where they see themselves in the mirror with a gorgeous tan - kind of like how anorexics still see themselves as fat even though they have ribs sticking out. That was my wake up call, but all the concern with skin cancer sealed the deal.
bostonwendy
Cathlete
kariev,
I, too, feel like tanning is an addiction for me. it feels so good and yet I know it is horrible. I managed to quit smoking 2 years ago so I should be able to quit tanning, right? no words of wisdom for you, just wanted to confirm that someone else out there also feels like tanning beds can be addicting. I anxiously await other replies on this thread because I need help myself!
I, too, feel like tanning is an addiction for me. it feels so good and yet I know it is horrible. I managed to quit smoking 2 years ago so I should be able to quit tanning, right? no words of wisdom for you, just wanted to confirm that someone else out there also feels like tanning beds can be addicting. I anxiously await other replies on this thread because I need help myself!
You're at the age now where you're going to start noticing what it's doing to you.
I was never a heavy tanner. I'd tan through summers, but I also stopped at 28. (32, now). It was at that point that I started to notice the little wrinkles setting.
Fast forward to 4 yrs later, I have friends that still tan religiously, and they look OLD. Some of it is genetics, of course, but they're not helping it along. The eye wrinkles and forehead wrinkles are your first markers. And they'll only get deeper. The more you tan, the worse they'll get. And while it may "hide" things now, you will reach the point where it doesn't. And that point isn't that far away. Sorry, not trying to be morbid. I just had this exact same conversation with myself 4 yrs ago, and I thank God that I stopped! I look younger than a lot of my friends for that reason.
Seriously, embrace your LACK OF WRINKLES right now, rather than "paleness". You'll thank yourself for it immensely when you see your friends start to age before your eyes.
I was never a heavy tanner. I'd tan through summers, but I also stopped at 28. (32, now). It was at that point that I started to notice the little wrinkles setting.
Fast forward to 4 yrs later, I have friends that still tan religiously, and they look OLD. Some of it is genetics, of course, but they're not helping it along. The eye wrinkles and forehead wrinkles are your first markers. And they'll only get deeper. The more you tan, the worse they'll get. And while it may "hide" things now, you will reach the point where it doesn't. And that point isn't that far away. Sorry, not trying to be morbid. I just had this exact same conversation with myself 4 yrs ago, and I thank God that I stopped! I look younger than a lot of my friends for that reason.
Seriously, embrace your LACK OF WRINKLES right now, rather than "paleness". You'll thank yourself for it immensely when you see your friends start to age before your eyes.
Liann
Cathlete
Wendy/Kariev - Just do a Google or Bing search for "Skin Cancer Pictures". If you can stomach it, it should give you a good wake up call. Your tan may look gorgeous now, but also realize that one day it's going to go from gorgeous to leather without warning. It will happen. Just watch those older ladies coming out of the beds who have been tanning religiously for years.
And you do not want to end up looking like this!
And you do not want to end up looking like this!
I never went to a tanning salon but did live on a beach for 18 years where we were tan year round. Now it just looks dated to me. I truthfully don't find it attractive any longer. I have even gotten over self tanners. What I do like to do is sit out in the sun for 20 minutes early in the morning in the spring and summer.
jamaicagirl
Cathlete
Sitting in a plastic surgeons office with him shaking his head at me asking me how at the age of 31 I had skin cancer. 3 surgeries later - I had the left side of my nose rebuilt from scratch from the cancer that had to be removed - it had grown from a small spot on my nostril and was growing under my skin into my cheek.
I loved the tanning bed when I was younger - went all the time!
NOT WORTH THE PAIN I HAD TO ENDURE YEARS LATER - stop now or you will regret it. I did
Michelle
I loved the tanning bed when I was younger - went all the time!
NOT WORTH THE PAIN I HAD TO ENDURE YEARS LATER - stop now or you will regret it. I did
Michelle
MAYNARDSMOM
Cathlete
Ex Tanner also. For me it also took the reality check of having skin cancer removed twice in my early thirties. One on my back & on one my face. I was fortunate that mine was only basal cel, which if you're going to get skin cancer that's the best kind to have.
My 14 yr old ds is going today at 3 o'clock for a possible biopsy. He is very fair skinned & moley. He also has had alot of suspicious spots removed but all have so far turned out to be fine. I found this one on his head while checking for ticks after hunting. I can honestly say I don't find this one suspicious but SCARY!!! I was blessed to know the nurse for our general surgeon as our derm is out for the wkk & she got us in very quickly!
I admit it is still hard for me sometimes to not want a bit of color but it's just not worth the risk!! Like others emntioned just google skin cancer & see some of the pics. I know FB has some pretty gruesome ones!
Good luck!
My 14 yr old ds is going today at 3 o'clock for a possible biopsy. He is very fair skinned & moley. He also has had alot of suspicious spots removed but all have so far turned out to be fine. I found this one on his head while checking for ticks after hunting. I can honestly say I don't find this one suspicious but SCARY!!! I was blessed to know the nurse for our general surgeon as our derm is out for the wkk & she got us in very quickly!
I admit it is still hard for me sometimes to not want a bit of color but it's just not worth the risk!! Like others emntioned just google skin cancer & see some of the pics. I know FB has some pretty gruesome ones!
Good luck!
Attachments
Little Lady
Cathlete
I work outside all summer and I've always tanned. At 29 I have brown spots on my face from it so I decided in May 09 to start using sunscreen. Turns out that I am extremely allergic. I had a horrible rash that burnt like I can't explain for weeks and had to take steroids to get rid of it. Now I don't know what to do. I don't want any more sun damage but I can't stay out of the sun. The doctor said use an umbrella and wear big hats.
Dee
Dee
bitmover
Cathlete
I was never a tanner, really, but I was a competitive swimmer and sailor..... one word: melanoma. Fortunately it was caught early, but I try to be very careful these days. If I'm out in the sun without adequate protection (for instance yesterday my co-workers wanted to eat lunch outside and I wasn't really prepared), I do feel like my old skin is wrinkling up at a much faster pace and I can't stand it!
kathryn
Cathlete
I think it varies with each series, but usually is a combo.
In one series, they definitely are using a self-tanner (they are a bit orange!). In another, Cathe answered that question by saying she got a base tan in a tanning bed, then used self-tanner over that (and I'm sure some makeup helped).
kathryn
Cathlete
Can you use a non-chemical, mineral-based sunscreen? Hypoallergenic brands?
Like any of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Maxi-Matic-EP...2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1259016323&sr=1-2
http://www.impex-intl.com/
kathryn
Cathlete
A memory from my childhood keeps my sun time limited (I always wear sunscreen on my face, but expose my body for vitamin D production):
I was at the house of a doctor my parents did work for, and I was able to see his wife up close for the first tiime. They had the money to travel a lot, and she obviously spent a lot of time in the sun. Though from a distance (like down the street) her tan may have looked good, up close she looked like a prune, with really leathery and wrinkled skin (like the photo Liann posted, but on her face). And I saw her "off season" when she was pale.
Pale, whitish prunes look really bad!
So whether it's health (cancer risk) or vanity (wrinkles, looking older than your age), find something to keep you away from those tanning beds.
I was at the house of a doctor my parents did work for, and I was able to see his wife up close for the first tiime. They had the money to travel a lot, and she obviously spent a lot of time in the sun. Though from a distance (like down the street) her tan may have looked good, up close she looked like a prune, with really leathery and wrinkled skin (like the photo Liann posted, but on her face). And I saw her "off season" when she was pale.
Pale, whitish prunes look really bad!
So whether it's health (cancer risk) or vanity (wrinkles, looking older than your age), find something to keep you away from those tanning beds.
caseysmomgo
Cathlete
Please just stop! It's not worth it. I think nowadays a lot of people are becoming smarter about tanning as they learn the dangers, so being pale is becoming the "in" thing!
From when I was a teen, I was obsessed with tanning, but I mostly burned... Then about 10 yrs ago after a bout with tanning beds trying to keep a Florida tan, I developed basal cell carcinoma. I quit tanning, and after trying tons of self-tanners and hating all of them, I just decided to stay pale, and it's so freeing!!! I LOVE being outdoors in the summer, but I use sunscreen, hats (even though I feel nerdy in them!), etc, and try not to stay out really long when I'm not prepared for it.
Good luck and stay safe!
From when I was a teen, I was obsessed with tanning, but I mostly burned...
Then about 10 yrs ago after a bout with tanning beds trying to keep a Florida tan, I developed basal cell carcinoma. I quit tanning, and after trying tons of self-tanners and hating all of them, I just decided to stay pale, and it's so freeing!!! I LOVE being outdoors in the summer, but I use sunscreen, hats (even though I feel nerdy in them!), etc, and try not to stay out really long when I'm not prepared for it.Good luck and stay safe!
Govtgirl
Cathlete
One of the benefits of thinking I was fat when I was a teenager, is that I wouldn't ever been seen in a bathing suit in order to get a tan! So, I NEVER had a tan when I was young, and only for one very short period in my 20's (like, 2 months) I got a base tan in a bed, then quit because I didn't want to cook myself.
So, I NEVER had a tan when I was young, and only for one very short period in my 20's (like, 2 months) I got a base tan in a bed, then quit because I didn't want to cook myself.
LizO66
Cathlete
I tan for a week or two before summer vacation. I try to get a little base color before I go on vacation in the summer. I'm fair and would burn to a crisp! I can only tan for about 5 mins. I find that if I do a little tanning before holiday, I don't burn. That's about all I do - 2 weeks a year. Everything in moderation, I think. =]