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FRESH_AIR
4/25/06 12:20 A
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Ladies, thanks for the advice...it's good to get info from all sides...something I will consider in the next few months!
Kath
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JANICESKATES
4/24/06 11:44 P
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Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer out there - one in three new cancer diagnoses is skin cancer and a person dies of skin cancer every hour, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
More facts: http://www.skincancer.org/skincancer-facts.php
Info specifically on why tanning beds are so bad for you:
http://www.skincancer.org/artificial/index.php
Base tan is a myth. The only good tan comes from a bottle. Hollywood stars get airbrushed tans to look natural and healthy and avoid tan lines. Sometimes they have airbrush tan parties with a tanning tent in the yard. What's good enough for Jennifer Aniston and Denise Richards is good enough for me.
I'm going to get a spray tan before my wedding. I'd also like to finally see a dermatologist this summer for a full skin cancer screening - hopefully they'll remove the mole in my cleavage, just to be safe, but I think it's only aesthetically displeasing. I was a lifeguard for 4 years and tanned outside as a teen, so I'm a little afraid that something bad will turn up, but it won't get any better if I put it off more.
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AURORAB345
4/24/06 10:18 A
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Ladies, I know you are going to kill me for saying this, but if you want to have a tan, the "tan from a can" is the safest way to go.
A natural tan is really serious business. Your body tans in response to burned skin cells, to try to protect the other cells. So the fact that you see any natural tan indicates that damage has already been done to your skin. And as little as 5 signifigant sun burns in your lifetime can double your chances of getting skin cancer. And, no, a "base tan" does not protect from damages from the sun. Neither, really, does clothing, since most clothing still allows 80% of UVA and UVB rays through.
And tanning beds are worse. They maginfy the UV rays and burn you at a much faster rate. I don't mean to sound whining or lecturing, but even if you look great on your wedding day, if your tan was achieved the "natural" way, you are paying a high price for it. Tanning increases your chances of skin cancer much the same way smoking increases your chances of lung cancer. Of course, smoking has a host of other health issues as well.
Not to be a "downer", but this website is all about making healthy choices, and helping each other make them. There are really good "skin tone enhancers" out there that are good for you. I know Jergens was mentioned. I have used Oil of Olay Quench skin enhancer, and it works beautifully. It takes a few days of application (and don't lay down on white sheets right after you apply it, like I did  - give it a few minutes to soak in.). It has not made me particularly dark, but I am very fair, and wouldn't look good that way. But it has done a great job of boosting my skin color, taking it up a few shades, evening out skin tone, and has a great moisturizer. I know Neutrogena makes some great ones too.
Good Luck.
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I would suggest one of those tanning lotions. I use Jergens Natural Glow and it's gotten me about three or four shades darker than I usually am.
I'm highly averse to sun tanning or tanning beds because I burn easily. So I would suggest this as a way to even out your tan without the UV rays.
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| I'm getting married on 5/19/06 and I know exactly what you are talking about. I walk outside everyday for 30-40 minutes and I have hidious strap marks that don't go well with my strapless wedding dress. I never tanned at a salon before or had spray on tanning done until recently. 3 weeks ago I started going to a tanning salon to get rid of my tan lines and get a base tan for my trip to Jamaica. Unfortunately I have had to ask a lot of questions at the tanning salon to get the results I'm going to need to cover up my tan lines. I've already have the start of a base tan. Unfortunately I have not gotten rid of my tan lines yet. I did my first Mystic Tan (pro spray tan) today and it has helped even out my tan lines so that they are less noticable. I've got a few more weeks to get rid of my tan lines and it does look like I may accomplish it. Bronzing lotions will give you a nice golden glow but they don't make you look completely tan. Self tanning lotions can make you look orange depending on your skin tone and takes a few applications to give you the tan look. Even with the Mystic Tan it takes several applications to get an even tan but you don't turn orange. I've worked up to 12 minutes every other day in the tanning bed so it's my time to unwind from a hectic day. You do have to move around while you are in the tanning bed to make sure you even out your tan. You can also get a burn (I have) if you don't know what you're doing (like increasing your time in the bed by a minute or two and tanning in the bed everyday. Just a word to the wise. Read up on how often you should tan since the staff leaves most of the decisions up to you on how often to tan and how long you can tolerate in the bed. It is your body after all.)
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FRESH_AIR
4/23/06 10:17 A
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I've been wondering about this too...
I was a bridesmaid in my sister's wedding last summer and had to go strapless. It so did not work trying to get a strapless, natural tan. In fact, I got NOTHING in the end because I was so careful about not getting lines that I put so much sunscreen on.
What have you all heard about self-tanning lotions? I had a friend who recently got married and had the lotion professionally done and it looked great. She had it done a month before hand to make sure it wouldn't look goofy for the wedding.
Now I've never been to a tanning bed, but would it not be good to go for a couple of times to build up a base, especially if you are going away somewhere hot? And that way you avoid lines? My fiance really doesn't want me to go to tanning bed though because of the skin damage.
Any advice/wisdom? Just trying to figure out what to do!
Kath
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| In my experience when I got a strap line and then try to make it go away by using strapless tops and tanning the tanned skin turns darker and there is always a visable line no matter what I do!
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TEACHERINPINK
4/22/06 9:50 A
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| I think is you make an effort to lay out, it will cover up your strap marks. You can buy swimming suits without straps as well. Good luck =)
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My wedding is August, my dress is strapless, and I'm worried! I always get a great natural tan in the summer by jogging, swimming, and rollerblading outside. My concern though is strap marks. I've been trying to find strapless tops, but haven't been successful. What should I do? I don't really like the idea of tanning beds and I'm afraid that tanning lotions won't blend well with my natural tan. Do you think if I just laid out with my bathing suit straps off my shoulders, it would tan my strap marks?
Sorry this is kind of long, but I don't want to look stupid on my wedding day!
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