All exposure to sun contributes to getting skin cancer. The effect is comulative over a lifetime.
"Tan" is just a lower intensity partial burn. If four hours gets you red, then do half as much exposure.
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Tanning, not burning??
- Thread starter ElectroGhandi
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All exposure to sun contributes to getting skin cancer. The effect is comulative over a lifetime.
"Tan" is just a lower intensity partial burn. If four hours gets you red, then do half as much exposure.
Basically, "studies" can say whatever they want. I know for a fact that I can stay out in the sun a lot longer with a tan than I can with sunscreen alone. The scientists have apparently not studied me.
I doubt you have a unique skin where all the typical biological damage and DNA repair mechanisms do not apply to you. Imagine if scientists had to do an experiment on every single person in the world to prove a medical point.
I'm not saying everyone is the same, but I do find that a scary number of people believe their situation is unique when, more often than not, it's not true. There's definitely a range of skin reactions to the sun, or to any radiation. However, base-tanning gives an SPF of 2-3 (.Andy's link from the Mayo Clinic says up to 4), and even if you miraculously got SPF 10 out of your base tan, a good sunblock is still more effective, cheaper, and better for your skin's health.
And besides, you're paying a lot of money to get an SPF of 4. May as well just sit in the sun outside your house for 20 minutes. There you go --- base tan. You'll get less of the more penetrating UV-A, but a bit more exposure to the less harmful UV-B.
And I'm not trying to start an argument. I don't care if you go to a tanning salon, just like I don't care if you were a smoker. In my first post, I simply answered the OP's question without ever mentioning the harms of tanning. I don't care if you tan. But if someone wants to talk about the harm of tanning beds, well then lets talk about evidence uncovered in research and studies on humans (yes, a wide range of human skin). Otherwise, we'd be commenting on hearsay, old wives tales, etc.
And 100 years ago, our average lifespan was around 60. Our average lifespan 1000 years ago was far shorter than that.
Our ozone layer also filtered out more of the UV.
Also, like Andy said, we're living in climates we're not really suited for. It's not a coincidence that people with the darkest skin come from near the equator.
Anyway, you're right in a way. Go out and get in the sun. Whatever. Just know the facts. I tan. Well, not purposely, but I was a 5 minute walk from 2 different beaches, so a tan is inevitable.
I usually just go without any type of sunblock or suntan lotion. I burn immediately just to get a good base layer on. Then to take care of the burn I use this Banana Boat Soothing After Sun Gel. It's green and works great. I put it on a few times throughout the day all over my burned area. It feels cool and soothing like it says. If you don't mind that, which I don't, it'll be a good way to get that first initial layer, and then you should be fine after that.
Are you crazy.
Just don't try and tan full stop.
If it doesn't give you cancer I guarantee it will age you prematurely.
I live in Australia and here where we have the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world people have learned not to tan. It's just not done. You will see girls scurry around in the shade.
Its amazing to see girls in their 30's who grew up on the beach and serioulsy they are like 60 to look at. their skin is leathery and wrinkled.
I am originally from Scotland and in my mid 30's but I get taken for mid 20's- I'm not being conceited but I do look good and I thank my youth spent undedr the grey clouds of NE Scotland.
Seriously, I don't know you and am not a public health officer, but don't tan in teh sun unless you want to look haggered before your time.
I have also been to a funeral for a friend in their 30's who died of skin cancer. It's so so sad and its not funny believe me. I know about the recklessness of youth but I promise what I say is how it is.
Most girls here get artificial tans believe it or not- they seem OK.
Our skin cancer ads are very confronting
This one has be so effective they will be expanding on this theme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaMuwjYpXYk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcamxXnWnHE&feature=related
Just don't try and tan full stop.
If it doesn't give you cancer I guarantee it will age you prematurely.
I live in Australia and here where we have the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world people have learned not to tan. It's just not done. You will see girls scurry around in the shade.
Its amazing to see girls in their 30's who grew up on the beach and serioulsy they are like 60 to look at. their skin is leathery and wrinkled.
I am originally from Scotland and in my mid 30's but I get taken for mid 20's- I'm not being conceited but I do look good and I thank my youth spent undedr the grey clouds of NE Scotland.
Seriously, I don't know you and am not a public health officer, but don't tan in teh sun unless you want to look haggered before your time.
I have also been to a funeral for a friend in their 30's who died of skin cancer. It's so so sad and its not funny believe me. I know about the recklessness of youth but I promise what I say is how it is.
Most girls here get artificial tans believe it or not- they seem OK.
Our skin cancer ads are very confronting
This one has be so effective they will be expanding on this theme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaMuwjYpXYk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcamxXnWnHE&feature=related
Without an intention to throw oil into the fire :
I think it really depends on the ethnic race and "exposure tolerance" to environmental factors since young for the individual.
I live in a tropical country - tanning is big here, and other than that, there is sea sports and beach sports where people inevitably get UV exposure, for hours. There are people who do it on a routine regular basis, like me, for eg. I can have good solid sun exposure for anything between 6 - 10 hrs a week. Mostly on consecutive days during weekends.
Skin cancer or over exposure is not a big thing here, because, its like a way of life. How do you avoid it?
But some people of my ethnic race who are born and raised in temperate countries till adulthood, when in my country, they seem to get red and freckled and spotted even. As for us locals, we get a nice crusty maple brown instead.
How do you explain it?
When I mean hot, it can be really hot. It was 34 degrees celsius between 12 - 4pm today, and mobs of curvy bikini girls and strapping males were lounging by the pool. Looking at some of them, you know they do it regularly for a few years at least, going by the look of their tan.
I heard, but I cannot substantiate nor validate, that the high incidence of skin cancer in OZ is due to the fact that there is a huge hole in the ozone layer, right above OZ in the atmosphere. Could be a spoof tale, could be an urban legend, I don't know. Or could be the simple fact that as caucasions, they are not as sun tolerant as Asians.
I think it really depends on the ethnic race and "exposure tolerance" to environmental factors since young for the individual.
I live in a tropical country - tanning is big here, and other than that, there is sea sports and beach sports where people inevitably get UV exposure, for hours. There are people who do it on a routine regular basis, like me, for eg. I can have good solid sun exposure for anything between 6 - 10 hrs a week. Mostly on consecutive days during weekends.
Skin cancer or over exposure is not a big thing here, because, its like a way of life. How do you avoid it?
But some people of my ethnic race who are born and raised in temperate countries till adulthood, when in my country, they seem to get red and freckled and spotted even. As for us locals, we get a nice crusty maple brown instead.
How do you explain it?
When I mean hot, it can be really hot. It was 34 degrees celsius between 12 - 4pm today, and mobs of curvy bikini girls and strapping males were lounging by the pool. Looking at some of them, you know they do it regularly for a few years at least, going by the look of their tan.
I heard, but I cannot substantiate nor validate, that the high incidence of skin cancer in OZ is due to the fact that there is a huge hole in the ozone layer, right above OZ in the atmosphere. Could be a spoof tale, could be an urban legend, I don't know. Or could be the simple fact that as caucasions, they are not as sun tolerant as Asians.
I just fake tan and slap on the SPF 35 every couple of hours. Why risk all the skin damage otherwise?