Fair skin and four days in the desert sun...to tan or not to tan?

[kiss_andmakeup]

So, I'm an extremely pale lady (photos in my album for reference), and I've always been fine with that. However, in April the BF and I are taking a trip out to a three-day music festival in California, where the temperatures will regularly be anywhere from high 80's to as high as the low 100's...with constant sunshine. I've been on vacations before, of course, but this one will be a little different due to the nature of the festival. We will be outdoors literally ALL DAY, with very little shade and respite from the sun and heat. We will likely leave the hotel on the shuttle at noon every day and stay at the festival until the wee hours of the night.

 

So I'm a bit worried about my skin. I do, of course, plan on bringing tons of sunscreen, but I'm nervous that between the sweat, the hours upon hours of sun exposure, and the party-like atmosphere, it's likely that my initial application won't last and additional applications may be forgotten about amidst the excitement.

 

I actually have very very pale olive undertones to my skin (rather than pink), so I tan okay as long as it's very gradual. As a teenager I spent many summer days outside and would have a really nice golden glow by the end of the summer. But, that was after 3 months of light sun exposure with sunscreen. And these are 75 degree midwestern summer days we're talking about, not 100 degree days with California desert sun.

 

Anybody have suggestions? My boyfriend recommended I do a little bit of tanning beforehand but that makes me so nervous - I've never done it; I hate the idea of paying to age myself, and I'm worried I'll burn. If I do decide to go tanning, what is the procedure? Do I wear sunscreen with a low SPF or none at all? Do I ask for a specific "intensity" or "level"? What do you wear? Or would it be better to just head to the desert in my current pasty state, apply sunscreen, and cross my fingers?

[CarrieT]

You are going to Coachella, huh?

 

Don't pre-tan - why help ruin your already fair skin?

 

Bring lots and lots of sunscreen. Apply often (like every three or four hours). Also, I would HEARTILY suggest a really big straw hat and invest in a camel pack for water. It is a brutal festival and people suffer a lot of heat-related injuries.

[kiss_andmakeup]

You are going to Coachella, huh?

 

Don't pre-tan - why help ruin your already fair skin?

 

Bring lots and lots of sunscreen. Apply often (like every three or four hours). Also, I would HEARTILY suggest a really big straw hat and invest in a camel pack for water. It is a brutal festival and people suffer a lot of heat-related injuries.

 

Thanks Carrie, I do have a hat but unfortunately, as far as I know, camelpacks are not allowed. I'll definitely be bringing a refillable water bottle though.

[tman666]

I tanned for about a month and a half before taking a cruise to Mexico last year. I too had never tanned purposely before that.

 

Basically, you'll likely (being so fair skinned) start at the regular booth for probably just 3-4 minutes for a few times a week. You'll want to give your skin a change to recover from each session until you build up a tolerance. Sunscreen is not worn to my knowledge; it's wise, however to purchase a tanning lotion (be prepared for some sticker shock on the price) for use during your session to help preserve the moisture in your skin. The tanning salon will likely try to sell you a package that includes access to a "bronzing" bed, which uses UVA rather than UVB radiation. The bronzing bed is generally used later on to bring out the dark tones after you've established a good base in a UVB bed.

 

As you go, you'll gradually build up the amount of time you spend in the bed. Most states have legal limits to how much time you can spend in the bed each day.

 

I definitely recommend it prior to a vacation. I found that it did help me out as far as avoiding sunburn. That being said (and I know you already mentioned it), I would definitely still wear sunscreen.

 

Of course, the safest option, as you know, is to not tan and to protect yourself from the sun. A spray tan could help you achieve the tan look, but you won't have any of the resistance to UVA/UVB that you would with a "real" tan.

 

I found it to be a very relaxing part of my day after a while, and I often miss it. It's easy to see why people get "addicted" to tanning.

[Citizen Erased]

You'll be fine. I am pale, and managed to stay that way even living in a very hot climate, going to the beach and two day festivals in temps rising to 115. It's not impossible. Just bring the sunscreen with you and try to remember to reapply, it doesn't take long.

 

If you do get burned, stock up on some aloe vera. It will take the sting out of the burn, cos it will sting like hell when you go back out into the sun. Don't tan on purpose, cos it will only take longer for you to go back to the gorgeous skin tone you have now.

[stillafool]

The sun shouldn't be that brutal out there in April. It usually starts heating up after June.

[Cypress25]

For the love of God, don't go to a tanning booth. That's cancer in a box. Don't believe the advertisements, light from a tanning booth is NOT safer than the sun. Ask any doctor or dermatologist, they'll set you straight.

 

Also, the only difference between a tan and a sunburn is the degree of pain. Just because a tan doesn't hurt doesn't mean it's good for you. Any discoloration from the sun is unhealthy. Yes, that means a tan is unhealthy. When your skin changes colors, that means you've had sun damage.

 

This is one of the reasons why skin cancer is so common among black people. They think they don't need to wear sunscreen because with their dark skin, they don't burn. But all that sun exposure is still damaging their skin, they just can't see it or feel it until later in life, when they're diagnosed with skin cancer.

 

To protect your skin during the music festival, use a sport sunscreen with a high SPF. The sport ones are designed to stay put even if you're sweating, but it's still wise to reapply every few hours. You could always set an alarm on your cell phone to remind you to reapply.

[kiss_andmakeup]

For the love of God, don't go to a tanning booth. That's cancer in a box. Don't believe the advertisements, light from a tanning booth is NOT safer than the sun. Ask any doctor or dermatologist, they'll set you straight.

 

I know this, in fact if you look at my posting history I made a thread a while back about my disdain for the tanning industry.

 

However, considering I've protected my skin religiously practically my whole life and never once used a tanning bed, I was considering making this my one exception due to the circumstances.

 

Ironically, my BF is a doctor. Not exactly the portrait of health you'd expect, I suppose!

 

Tman and CE, thanks for the info!

[FitChick]

There is clothing you can buy that will screen out the sun better than just regular clothing does. Not sure what it is called. Maybe LL Bean or Land's End would have it.

 

Why do you think people who live in the deserts of the Middle East cover themselves from head to toe? They wouldn't have survived as a race otherwise. When I see someone with a tan I think, Too bad she ruined her skin.

[Ruby Slippers]

Tanning beds cause cancer. Don't do it!

 

It's much better to get a little natural sun between now and then if you can. And yes, hat, sun-shielding clothing, shade, and frequently reapplied sunscreen.

[ScreamingTrees]

Why wouldn't you just shield yourself with clothing or an umbrella or something?

 

Do you want to end up like this poor dude?

[SoleMate]

If you're trying to avoid damage to your skin, then definitely don't tan. As several here have pointed out, tans and burns are both damage, just different in degree. They both lead to wrinkles and increased risk of skin cancer.

 

Instead, I would focus on developing the hat, sunscreen, and clothing ideas to the max.

 

HAT: Something very comfortable and well-fitting, with a wide brim, that stays on your head well even in wind. You may need to take several hats to change according to wind and heat levels and whether you misplace one.

 

SUNSCREEN: Experiment ahead of time, including "sweat trials". There are some high-SPF screens that have a "dry touch" quality, i.e. not greasy, and they tend to stay on better. Sprays may also help. make sure your regular outfit has an extremely convenient place for your tube or bottle of sunscreen to ride around with you 24/7 so you never need to remember it separately, e.g. a lightweight cotton or linen cargo-style jacket with big, buttoned pockets.

 

CLOTHES: Long-sleeved and lightweight. I've never actually been burned through regular clothing of any type. Anything except very thin, light-colored gauze or loose jersey has got to be at least SPF15 or 20, and most regular clothes (like a tightly woven dark blouse) will be 30+. Think long-sleeved, loose, and flowing, especially for your top half if you're standing in the sun.

 

If you plan to spend a lot of time seated in the sun, then screen on the tops of your legs is a must.

 

Last thought: There is no causal correlation between heat and sunburn risk. The correlation is solar radiation to sunburn. So to gauge your risk level, don't look so much at the thermometer, look at the sky. If it's blue, you're at risk.

 

Again, my advice is DO NOT pay for a commercial skin damaging treatment. Mother Nature does that to us whether we want it or not.

 

Signed, Another very fair-skinned lady

[Krios]

I'll just share a part of my reply on sunburn when running in the sun:

 

Sunburn:

Your skin will get exposed to the sun and sun rays damage the skin irreversebly by damaging DNA.

 

Solutions:

Use sunscreen with a high Sun Protection Factor(SPF). Sun rays attack your skin on two levels. It burns your skin and it damages your DNA. There are two types of radiation that are responsible for this, namely UV-B and UV-A radiation.

 

Many if not most sunscreens ONLY protect against UVB radiation, which prevents sunburn, but does not protect against DNA damage.

 

A good sunscreen has a high SPF and protects against both UVB and UVA radiation.

 

Personally I use a spray-on sunscreen, because it's quick to apply, isn't messy and you can't see that I'm "wearing" it.

 

There are now sunscreens on the market that have an SPF of 100, which is excellent in terms of protection and additionally they protect against both UV-A and UV-B radiation.

 

So if you're really worried about your skin then look for a sunscreen with a high SPF which protects your skin against both UVA and UVB radiation.

Edited February 20, 2012 by Krios