Safe tanning

[Jonathan R]

Hi, I would like to get myself a decent sun tan but am worried about the negative effects (aging, cancer) I therefore started with Factor 15 but am not tanning - surprise! Is using really low protection safe enough in the UK? I don't burn and generally tan well but slowly and have fair(ish) skin. I need a tan as I think I look silly with brown arms and a white body and want to go swimming, etc. Thanks in advance.

[Gef]

A tan is your body's attempt to protect the skin from U/V. If your arms are nicely tanned and you do not burn then I would suggest that it should be safe for you to expose other unprotected parts of your body to the sun for a reasonable period of time. The problem is knowing what is a reasonable period of time.

[answerbok]

Sems like they're trying to scare us; look at your face, any cancer? no. and it's in the sun every time you are; any on your hands? no; they get even more sun exposure. more tender parts, sunbathe gradually, day 1, 20 minutes day2 40mins etc. you don't need factor anything it is a scam by the drug companies to sell you suntan cream. How many people even get skin cancer from the sun? [and it's mostly curable, a lesser cancer, The incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer [caused by sun] for females is about 60 per 100,000 per year, that's a pathetic .0006% per population.. you got more chance of winning the lottery, so ignore the hype, chuck out the sun barriers, maybe keep a little low factor for shoulders etc to prevent sunburn, forget the cancer.. Go enjoy your summer :-) http://www.medicdirect.co.uk/default.ihtml?pid=518
&step=4

[pesk30]

Why not try faking it! Gone are the days of tangerine fake tan! There are many good ones about that are easy to put on with a Mitt to stop staining on your hands and they are tinted so you can see where you are putting them. Just make sure you use one that is light enough for your skin - you don't want to end up looking like someone dippe dyou in chocolate. If you're not brave enough to try it at home then salons do good ones for �20 upwards...small proce to pay for looking like an old leather bag by the time you're 40...

[Squirrel]

I've heard that glass actually absorbs some of the ultraviolet part of the radiation from the sun. It might be worth checking out this rumour if you don't mind tanning behind a window (if it would even work, that is).

[Jonathan R]

Great answerrs, thanks everyone. I feel much less worried. One problem I had is that I put suncream on my back by myself but missed a bit. Now, the missed section has tanned nicely but my back is splodgy as most of it is still white! Oh well. Thanks for the link, answerbok. The picture of the guy with a section of his skin missing shocked me a bit! Pesk30, Although I do use moisturiser etc., I think using fake tan may leave me with no male friends and being barred from the local pub!! Hope you all enjoy the sunshine while it lasts. Squirrel, (BTW, I saw a red one today) I'll bear it in mind, cheers.

[charlottemis]

Honey dont do it! I swear in a few years that little bit of tanning on fairish skin will leave you with age spots and wrinkles. try a self-tanner.I use them on a regular basis and no one is the wiser that my tan isnt real. Neutrogena is the best in my opinon,and you can buy it year round to acheive a healthy glow in as little as 30 minutes to 3 hours. wrinkles and rough skin are much less attractive then a bit of a farmer's tan that can be covered with a self-tanner.Just make sure you buy an exfoilating product first to slough off dead skin cells to acheive the optimal self tan...good luck!