indoor tanning, fair skin

[shoesies05]

I'm going to Hawaii next month with my bf and so recently ive been working out a lot and started indoor tanning. I am pretty happy with my body already, but would like to shed maybe 5 lbs-10lbs and tone up along with get a nice beautiful tan.

 

Im a strawberry blonde, with light skin, and blue eyes. I generally burn easily in the sun, but do tan- it just takes a lot of time in the sun.

 

Anyways- i was wondering, do accelerators really work? And how long does it usually take to get a nice tan if you have fair skin?

 

Thanks

[Trojan John]

Unless you have old windows, I don't think that you will be getting much of a tan through the glass (if that's what you mean by indoor tanning). You could potentially still get skin cancer, though.

 

Several beauty companies make tanning supplements -- the exact word escapes me -- that you have to take several weeks in advance in order reduce your chances of burning. You could also try a lower rated sunblock creme.

 

Whatever you choose, limit your time in the sun because the entire process is damaging anyway.

[LoveNeverFails]

I am also fair skinned and wanting a nice beautiful tan has always been a dream of mine. I will always envy women who are naturally darker.

 

I would advise against the tanning beds since they damage your skin and increase premature wrinkles.

 

I googled the best spray on tan saloon here in my city and I recommend you do the same.

 

[Star Gazer]

5-10 pounds in a month on someone who's already small and fit might be difficult.

 

As for tanning, do you mean tanning beds? I know so many people swear against them, but I couldn't live without them. There are beds now that only have the browning rays, and not the aging/damaging/burning rays. (One is UVA, the other is UVB, not sure which is which.) The salon I go to only has one of those special beds that has only the browning rays. I use only it and get fantastic results.

 

I'm fair haired, with a few freckles, and light green eyes. I almost always burn in the sun. But in those special beds, I don't burn at all, only tan. That way I can put on 50+ SPF when I'm out in the real sun.

 

Spray-on tans (i.e., Mystic Tans), IME look horrid on fair skinned people.

[Lizzie60]

Tanning beds ARE dangerous for your skin..

 

There is no such thing as indoor tanning that does not damage your skin..

 

I never get tanned prior to my vacations.. it usually doesn't take long.. to get a nice light tan..

 

I hate those 'leather' brown skin.. or too much tan.. it's yucky.. sooo tacky.

 

Even on holidays,.. I stay in the shade and still get a nice light tan..

 

Sun and tanning beds ARE not good...

[anne1707]

SG

 

I was curious (and excited too) about your comments about sunbeds so did a quick google.

 

UVA is the one that leads to cancer whilst UVB burns but also increases the risk of non-melanoma skin cancers and malignant melanoma. Here is a link to more info (though I did find more sites saying similar things by just typing in "uva uvb sunbed"

 

http://www.bupa.co.uk/health_information/html/health_news/300903sunbed.html

 

The UVB does seem to be a lower risk than UVA but it is still a risk so you may want to rethink your use of beds.

 

I have used sunbeds in the past but not any more because I decided it was not worth the risk (fair skinned etc) so now will just resort to fake tan now and then. I agree it does not look as good as the real thing but at least you know it is not doing you any harm (apart from the smell when you put it on )

[shoesies05]

Well, i know the risks that come in tanning beds. But its not like Im doing it for the rest of my life, just the next few weeks before i go to hawaii.

 

I dont have the money for sunless tanning supplies. I paid for the tanning beds through a gift card i got for my gym. Plus i am a bit skeptical that fake tans are better for you... what about all of the chemicals that are being sprayed onto your body? I dont know about it really... but i would assume that its not exactly great for anyone.

[Star Gazer]

I also asked one of my best friends, who is a dermotologist. She agreed that if you're determined to not be pale, tanning beds are better for you than true sunlight.

 

The sun emits both types of rays. Tanning beds – the newest ones, at least – emit far fewer UVB rays than the sun does (proportionally). This is important, because many people say that UVB rays are the more harmful of the two types of radiation. UVB ray wavelengths are short, and they therefore affect the outermost layers of a person’s skin. Burning is often caused by UVB rays. UVA rays are longer and penetrate deeper into the dermal layer of the skin, causing a tan.

 

Tanning beds can regulate the balance of UVB rays and UVA rays, exposing tanners to far fewer UVB rays than the sun – this is why many say that you are less likely to get burnt in a tanning bed than on the beach.

 

Of course, a person can still be overexposed to UVA rays, which can lead to long-term skin damage. As with everything in life, UVA rays ought to be taken in moderation. In moderation, UVA rays can even be helpful – without sunlight (or a tanning bed), your body cannot produce its own vitamin D, and vitamin D is important for protecting against certain cancers, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other diseases.

 

Many will even tell you that it is not safe to not tan! By this, they mean that if you are rarely exposed to the sun, you have a greater chance of acquiring some forms of cancer. Some have even found that people who do not receive regular sun exposure are more likely than others to develop malignant melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer).

 

The key to good safe tanning can be found in the ever popular saying that all good things must be taken in moderation. Be sure to protect your skin with sunscreen and try to avoid getting sun burned. If you feel that you want or need a tan, then do so by exercising caution. You do not want to over expose your skin, causing damaging results. You also do not want to avoid the sun all together as it has been proven to aid your body in processing Vitamin D.

 

[Sweetcheripie]

My daughter went to the Dermatologist today... he warned her that there is a horrible very resistant bacterial infection being spread in the tanning beds. According to him it is not a local problem but popping up all over the nation. He showed pictures and it was awful. Starts off looking a little bit like dry skin patches and progressively gets worse. Yikes...be careful!!!!!

[rainbowbrite]

i used to work at a tanning salon so i can help ya out. yes tanning accellerators really work. tanning lotion in general is EXTREMELY important to use in a tanning bed, simply because without the lotion you can't get nearly as tan. accellerators work right after you use them. and it just does that. it speeds up your tan, and helps you to build up your base tan. but once you get your base tan, you dont need accellerators anymore. and should begin using other lotions to keep ur tan longer such as tingles, are my faves. but only after you have really good color. because you will burn. and as far as how long it can take a person with fair skin to tan. it just all depends on the person. id say prob around 5 sessions for a fair skinned individual. but keep in mind to start off the minutes at around 6 and then gradually build up. and of course this is all depending on what level bed you are using.

[rainbowbrite]

There are beds now that only have the browning rays, and not the aging/damaging/burning rays. (One is UVA, the other is UVB, not sure which is which.) The salon I go to only has one of those special beds that has only the browning rays. I use only it and get fantastic results.

 

the difference between uva and uvb. is uva rays are the most sought after, they are the bronzing rays. and uvb are the "burning" rays. most salons have levels of tanning. the higher the tanning level the more uva to uvb rays. for instance a level 1 bed will have mostly uvb rays. thats why you get mostly burnt in a level 1 bed. and say a level 2 bed will have even more uva rays and less uvb rays. until you get to the max level 4 bed which can also be called a high pressure bed. which is a larger amount of the uva or bronzing rays. that go deeper into your skin for a lasting glow. but dont be fooled. both are bad for you, both can cause cancer. and all high pressure beds also have uvb rays in them too.

[shoesies05]

Thanks everyone!

 

Thing is, ive tanned in a tanning bed i think 6 times now, and i really dont look any darker, maybe like 1 shade... but nothing noticeable... is that normal? I havent been burning either, should i maybe up my time?

[rainbowbrite]

Thanks everyone!

 

Thing is, ive tanned in a tanning bed i think 6 times now, and i really dont look any darker, maybe like 1 shade... but nothing noticeable... is that normal? I havent been burning either, should i maybe up my time?

 

ya u should up your time, and maybe try using a diff lotion

[rainbowbrite]

Thanks everyone!

 

Thing is, ive tanned in a tanning bed i think 6 times now, and i really dont look any darker, maybe like 1 shade... but nothing noticeable... is that normal? I havent been burning either, should i maybe up my time?

 

ya u should up your time, and maybe try using a diff lotion

[dhiraaz]

I have a skin problem, it's some sort of allergy.Whenever, I go to sunlight, I experience itching sensation. I am looking for some remedy that has no side effect.

 

Any suggestion will be highly appreciated.

 

Thanks,

[dhiraaz]

I have a skin problem, it's some sort of allergy.Whenever, I go to sunlight, I experience itching sensation. I am looking for some remedy that has no side effect.

 

Any suggestion will be highly appreciated.

 

Thanks,