I haven't been in once since high school (20 years ago, when it was all the rage). I paid for the package myself, and still didn't use half the 10 sessions I page for. I itched so terrible the day after I'd been in the tanning bed I just could not stand it! I mean, I could be caught at a door frame rubbing my back up and down, side to side! LOL. It was like that all-over burning itch of a healing sunburn, hurts to scratch it, hurts not to. The skin didn't look burnt, but it felt dry and flaky, just weird. I'll never go in one again. I also did not enjoy lying in the bed bored, it's not like you can read or something under those lights.

If I wanted a pre-season tan, I'd look into a self-tanning lotion (which I've never used, so I cannot recommend one, but would be very curious what others say). I use an arosol spray sunscreen and think I get better coverage that way, but that kind of can does empty fast, so have some backup.

I have never been to one but a young woman (26) died
down here a few months ago from Melanoma after using
the tanning from a salon.
She did have very fair skin.
Nola

Here is a link that might be useful: Tanning salon.

This girl has since passed away also from Melanoma.
Nola

Here is a link that might be useful: Here's another one

I have tanned in a salon quite a few times and I am also close to 50. The key is to start off slow and gradually raise your time in the bed. They now have radios and cd players in the beds so you don't get as bored. I have very pale skin and it is nice to get a little color.

My understanding is that one of the major difficulties related to sunlight is that it distributes UV rays.

We've long said that we like to see some tanning on white-skinned folks.

Perhaps a limited measure of tanning via sunlight may be useful, but too large exposure, especially all at once in the beginning, causes sunburn and some say substantial long-term damage.

To get an idea of what major long-term exposure to the sun's rays produces, look at the leather-like skin of farmers and fishers as contrasted with their covered skin.

Some of the salons claim that they produce minimal UV rays - one wonders whether they, in the first place, know what they are talking about, and the second, may be telling us what they they think that we want to hear.

Some claim to produce only part of the proportional amount that one gets in sunlight, others agree that they produce quite a lot of UV rays.

I figure that, apart from needing some sunlight to help my body produce Vitamin D, I'm not enthused about getting too much sunlight.

Perhaps partly reverting to the early days when our forebears were cave-dwellers?

Some claim that I'm badly out of date ... behind the times.

Just an old fossil, maybe?

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

ole joyful

stick to your sunscreen..older skin doesn't need to be tanned whether from the sun or a light bulb...

Good way to get skin cancer.

DON'T DO IT!!!! It is not worth the risk of getting skin cancer. I have had a melanoma taken off my back because of it. Also, I have a friend who is just in her early 30's who used tanning beds but did not use the goggles and she now has the beginnings of Macular degeneration in her eyes. They are NOT safe and they really should be banned. My son and his girlfriend use them and I keep telling them, but some people just don't believe they are unsafe. It will take many more people getting skin cancer before it is realized.

I have never been to a tanning salon. I burn very easily
so I was always afraid of them. I have a friend who
tanned for years but thankfully she no longer does it.

I used to tan a bit when I worked in my salon...but just like 3 times a season as I tan very easily. But I also burn easily....I did use a sunscreen though....Now I don't tan use my sunscreen and still get tan....Stacy

I confess......i go to them every fall. Why fall? Im usually trying to hold on to the last of my summer tan. I am NOT an OTer(over tan). I think i use to be(in my youth) but i believe that as you get older it really looks bad. I dont know how many times i see an OTer and say "Boy she looks old!" A few years ago i did try the Mystic tan for my trip to Puerto Rico. That is the spray on tan. I thought the results were pretty good but in the end i would not recommend it for a vacation like yours. The tan does wash off in the water. As you get out and dry yourself off it will rub off on your towel. How embarrassing to see your white towel covered in this brownish paint. I would recommend the mystic tan to anyone who may be attending a wedding or even a weekend get away that does not involve water. Whatever you decide do not forget your sunscreen.

Ya, I'm thinking I'll just go and use some good sunscreen. I would always get burned at the beginning of the year when I used to not be as careful about using sunscreen. And of course if you're in the tropics, not MN, when you first venture out for the season it's much worse. As I've become older and wiser I religiously use sunscreen now - all the time. I still get tan but I never burn myself anymore. So I think I should be capable of keeping myself coated in sunscreen and avoiding a painful sunburn.

I like a little color but health is way higher on my priority list than my vanity - so showing up pale doesn't bother me. I also decided if I'm going to spend any time making myself look better, that I'd rather work on my abs than my tan.

I'm over 50 and discovered tanning beds when I was 40. I still tan.

I have very light skin and even with lotions, will burn from spring through fall whenever I'm outdoors. When I was younger, I couldn't even wear shorts/tank tops because of the horrible sunburns I'd get. Now, I use my tanning bed to keep a very light "base tan" which allows me to do normal activities outside garden, mow the lawn ... heck ... I used to get a light burn on my face just driving the 30 min. home from work every day. I don't go for the deep tan, just a light color that in my opinion, protects my skin from burning/peeling.

I think people look better with a little color, rather than all pasty.

I go tan in the spring. I have very fair skin so I'll by a package of 100 mins. Start off with 3 to 5 mins for several times. Work my way through 8 mins, then 10 mins. by that time I have a light tan and don't burn so much when I'm outside. I use a sunblock if I'm outside for over 30 mins. By mid summer I'm pretty much tired of indoor tanning and start my fade back into winter. LOL

You might be better off using sunscreen - but getting a 'spray-on' tan' for the color...
Between the intensity of the tropical sun & reflection of water -- you could end up burned & very uncomfortable for part of your holiday.
When my oldest sister & her DH used to go to St. John in February back in the early 80's - they would only be able to be on the beach for about an hour for the first few days of their trip - no sunscreen was available back then..
Now with the sunblocks - you can be out all day...
I would advise some sort of broadbrimmed hat & light weight long sleeve [kinda floaty style] blouse thing..

I've used them and I regret it now that I'm older and smarter and have something to live for (children). People do look better with color but people look better alive too. I've seen the surgery to remove melanoma and they have to go very deep and it's very disfiguring. Pasty skin looks better than that.

I would invest in good sunblock, a wide-brimmed hat and a good cover-up. I haven't been to the islands in years but when I did go, I would always plan other activities (lunch, work out in the gym, nap, etc) at the height of the day when the sun is the most potent.

Just because you get a "base tan" on a bed, doesn't mean you won't be susceptible to sunburns. Go on your trip, and use LOTS of sun screen. In fact, look at getting yourself some UV blocking clothing.

Moni

I have naturally "olive" skin, because of my Indian Heritage. But, I still tan to even out tones.

I got "to much" sun last Summer on Vacation in the first 2 days. I'm not stupid. I stayed out of the Sun and under an Umbrella before I could "fry".

My legs are always lighter than my shoulders and chest. I cover the darker parts when tanning.

Gayle

There are lots of benefits to tanning

Here is a link that might be useful: tanning truths

I used to work at one for a couple of years and was also a die-hard user for about 15 years. if you DO decide to go....make sure the place is very clean. You can catch all sorts of nasty skin things (other than cancer)if the beds are not cleaned properly. Give yourself 3 weeks and only go about 10 minutes to start...gradually working your time to 20 min.
Please be aware that this is a "different" type of tan and doesn't look natural...kind of orangey, depending on your skin. It also does not help protect you from a burn.
As much as I hate having pale skin (clothes and teeth look sooooo much nicer on tans don't they!) I would NEVER go back to tanning salons. It's just not worth the damage to your skin. Don't let them tell you that it is safer than the sun! I'd suggest lots of strong sunblock, hat, sunglasses and a light, longsleeve cotton coverup for your holiday.....and ENJOY IT!!!
By the way...tanning salons make your skin stink...you'll need to wear some perfume or scented lotion afterwards.

I've never used one (another reason I'd clear the beach in a bikini). My daughter, Christin, used to go to one fairly regularly. I tried to talk her out of going, but you know how hard those young heads can be sometimes.
Lu

The "stink" is bacteria on your skin not the tanning bed. Its after exposure. There are lotions that will combat the smell. It certainly is not bad.
I have never had an "orange" color from tanning. If people doo its the lotion or are using a combination self tanning lotion and tanning beds.

I read this quote from a physician some time ago, and it stuck with me:

"A tan is visible skin damage."

I wouldn't think of going. Why pay to subject your skin to additional damage?

My doctor found I'm deficient in vitamin D. I found I can enough of "The Sunshine Vitamin" by spending 5 minutes a day outdoors,and exposing only my face and hands. I wouldn't go near a tanning salon, except to pass it on my daily walk. Haven't you heard of skin cancer (melanoma)?

Wehn I think of sun-beds I think "Rotisserie" !!! .... I wouldn't subject myself to anything cancer causing if I could help it.

You can always tell if someone has a "fake" tan.
The skin damage however is "real"...from wrinkles, to cancer, to eye damage. I must admit that I really do miss how relaxing the beds were and how they warm you throughout! If my daughter started tanning on purpose(inside or outside), I'd book an appointment for her with a dermatologist for some clear facts.

Nodakgal, that link is to a website that is clearly supported by the tanning salon industry, so I don't think it is an unimpeachable source. Plus, most of the "debunked myths" relate to sunlight exposure for vitamin D production, which doesn't require tanning to have effect (or the entire population of Scandinavia, for instance, would be Vitamin D deficient, which clearly they aren't).

DH treated cancer patients for 30 years... he is against tanning salons.
He has seen lots of damage, and even deaths.

Save your money and safeguard your health... stay away from them!

Never been to one myself, but if you google 'are tanning beds safe' you might find you aren't so interested in going to one anymore - in particular if you are fair skinned.
I get a pretty good tan going every year because I mow lawns and garden at my apartment buildings - yes I' ve probably got some melanomas waiting, but I do like to brown up in the summer.
{{!gwi}}
Suzan J

Like I said ... look at the skins of farmers and fishers.

Our atmosphere doesn't filter out as much of the UV as it used to.

You won't get me to go to one.

ole joyful

I greatly admire the skin of the people of colour. Shades of brown go so nicely with clothes and white teeth. But alas I am a pale face but you won't see me inside a tanning salon. My skin ages fast enough as it is and the last thing I need is another cancer.

Is it really worth the risk????????????
I can think of a lot better ways to spend my money.

I'm from a neighboring state of yours and go on vacation to a warm spot yearly. I don't tan in the summer and when I'm outdoors I always use sunscreen. I'm pretty fair skinned. With that being said, I did not tan ahead of time once and regretted it. This year I bought 100 minutes for both my daugther and myself. We started out at 5 minutes and used the bed that was the weakest in intensity. I went about 10 times and my daughter about 8 and neither of us went over 7 minutes in the bed. Our skin had just enough that we did not burn at all when we were there. My DH, on the other hand, was quite red. The sun there is much hotter than Minnesota in the summer. When we go, we use 3 bottles of sun screen for the week at 30 and 45. Even with this on, I will burn if I do not have a slight base tan. I'd listen to the friends and get a base going now.

It really makes your skin age a lot faster......and damages your skin which was already damaged when you were much younger. Sun exposure has accumulative damaging effects.
(I used to work for a dermatologist.)