To people that Tan.

[~*faeryfly*~]

Everything in moderation I suppose~:)
There is nothing wrong with tanning, it's just common sense that you shouldn't overdo it!
I have never had the desire to be tanned, I don't think I even can tan...I think that white skin is beautiful & I'm proud that when I'm older I'll have minimal wrinkleage, hehehe.

[galaxie]

Wow, I am at work right now so I don't have time for a lengthy reply, but holy crap is there a lot of misinformation and assumptions in this thread.

I WORK at a tanning studio.
I KNOW the benefits and risks of tanning.
When I get home, and have some time, I will explain both sides of the story.

But just IMO here, EVERYTHING IN MODERATION PEOPLE!

[mugsy]

Originally Posted by pbreak

you're right about sunbathing being too much, but a sunblock of SPF 8 blocks 95% of vitamin D production, SPF 15+ basically blocks all production, thus ellimating the healthy effects of the sun. Apparently some of the highest occurences of vitamin D deficiencies occur in some of the sunniest places in the world, and especially among women, because of cultural rules/laws requiring head to toe clothing.. of course this is referring to Islamic countries in the middle east.

no one said you shouldn't take steps to avoid cancer as best as possible, my diet and (most of) my lifestyle reflects this, it's basically just being healthy period - but this topic is specifically about getting sunshine, and apparently no amount of doctors or common sense will be able to convince some people that for most people getting lots of sunshine will always be a much better thing than a bad thing - it's a balance thing, people have been walking the earth naked in the sun for hundreds of thousands of years and yet the human race has not all died from skin cancer. In some northern countries (ex. Norway) they actually provide UV lights for kids during the winter when there is no sun because they are aware of the damaging effects of NOT getting sunshine... educate yourself and read up on this, you might find it interesting.

question: how does the spf 8 block the vitamen d? i realize that the reason we asorb vitamen d is most likely through a chemical reaction our body has when it takes in uv rays, but are we not still absorbing them with the spf on? i find that with an 8 on i still end up changin color. maybe im specail, but i really dont see how it blocks out all uv rays.

not that im a huge hippie or activist, but our atmosphere has changed emensely over hte past hundreds of thousands of years, some natural causes and some unnatural causes. dont you think this affects the type of damage we receive? hundreds of years ago, hell even 50's of years ago how many cases of aids were known of? what about cancer? just because its not recorded doesnt mean it did not happen. alot of skin cancer is undetectable. my mom had a tumor under her face for long enough for it to grow into an inoperatable tumor. without the resources of modern science, she would have just passed away without us knowing why. fortunately, it was found.

basically what im saying is that cancer research is a pretty knew subject on the scale of things. new types are still being discovered. the fact that it can be a genetic disease was just stumbled across. numerous amounts of people could have passed away for centuries because of this, without anyone knowing.

also sking cancer is not something that commonly happens to younger people. usually its from years and years of bodily abuse. so right now, no these ladies are not fully in harms way. but they shoudl think about their future. sure maybe not everyone gets skin cancer but alot of people do. im pretty sure when my parents were 16 they were not thinking about what lying on the beach is going to do to them. just like how when my grandparents were 20 they didnt think that cigarette they lit was going to damage them at all. as our scientific knowledge\expereince grows, we learn how much we have been harming ourselves.

like i said previously, its not something people can grasp fully without experience. all through highschool, my parents got tons of skin cancer cut off, i still tanned my little ass off in the summer time, completely disregarding my parents warnings because i didnt see it as being that serious. then cancer affected my family in a more serious way, i did some personal research, and learned that its not a good thing for me. bravo to the people who are invincable to cancer, i know that im not. and also as i stated previously, those in harms way are the people that bask in the sun, spending days at a time soaked in oils getting as tan as they can. and always keep in mind that the damaging efects dont pop up the next day, it can take decades.

im not kidding kids, check the cancer society's web site.

[Ree Fresh]

Originally Posted by galaxie

Wow, I am at work right now so I don't have time for a lengthy reply, but holy crap is there a lot of misinformation and assumptions in this thread.

I WORK at a tanning studio.
I KNOW the benefits and risks of tanning.
When I get home, and have some time, I will explain both sides of the story.

But just IMO here, EVERYTHING IN MODERATION PEOPLE!

I was recently a cliant at teh North Vancouver Fabutan on Lonsdale. They had rediculouse amounts of info about the "vitamin d" much of it highlighted too. But what I was NEVER able to find was just 1 statment that sugests tanning for vitamin D. Infact I read and read through those magazines, articles and coulnt find one single sentence that said Fake n BAking is good for you.

On an other note. Like I said in a previouse thread... 3 weeks after tanning I notice a huge diffrence in my energy/felt physicly deprest/got sick. So I started taking Vidamin D pills and what a diffrence! There is an alternative to tanning for your vidamin D.

However ive also hered an other good reason to expose yoruself to the sun. Last I hered is that sun block can be bad for you as it your skin becoms dependent on it making it weaker when freshly exposed to the sun.

Bottom line: In moderation. I may go back to the tanning beds, but it will probly be once a week and no more then 10-15 min a session. Also warm yoruself up in the sun. Wear sun block in peak hours (12-2pm) or our side for a long period of time.

PS: EVRYTHING CUASES CANCER!!! It just might be best to keep donating so we find a cure ;)

[Rhianna]

I saw my 14 and 15 year old cousins the other day. They were BRIGHT orange. They *Heart* their tanning and look like orange plastic. It made me sad.

After seeing my mum go through two different types of cancer, skin cancer being one of them. Tanning is not on my list of things to do. Yes everything can give you cancer. That is why I try say away from as much of it as I can.

But who cares about the cancer, I just don't like the way it looks.

[charly]

^ that's a big part of it too. (looks)

sure, i may be pale, but at least i'm not going to be all gross and leathery by the time i'm 25. ;)

[stringbeans]

i personally think tanning in the winter is a waste of time and money. you're going to be covered up most of the time anyways so instead of tanning your whole body maybe just tan from your chest up.

[Rhianna]

Originally Posted by charly

^ that's a big part of it too. (looks)

sure, i may be pale, but at least i'm not going to be all gross and leathery by the time i'm 25. ;)

But leathery is in this season.

Don't forget to go blonde too.

[charly]

Originally Posted by stringbeans

i personally think tanning in the winter is a waste of time and money. you're going to be covered up most of the time anyways so instead of tanning your whole body maybe just tan from your chest up.

i don't know. a lot of girl still rock the mini skirts and whatever skank gear they choose in the winter. i laugh when i look at them and i'm warm and they look SO cold.

[charly]

Originally Posted by Rhianna

But leathery is in this season.

Don't forget to go blonde too.

oh man, how could i forget?
i need to make sure i get my hair lighter than my skin! i'll be -so- hot.

[bungoshlung]

so hot, yet so cold at the same time

[Cdn_Brdr]

Originally Posted by galaxie

Wow, I am at work right now so I don't have time for a lengthy reply, but holy crap is there a lot of misinformation and assumptions in this thread.

I WORK at a tanning studio.
I KNOW the benefits and risks of tanning.
When I get home, and have some time, I will explain both sides of the story.

But just IMO here, EVERYTHING IN MODERATION PEOPLE!

You work at a tanning studio so obviously you're going to try and defend it but the bottom line is this:

Moderation or not it is still bad for you. Granted, moderation lessens the overall negative effects but it's still bad. People are so overly concerned with glamour, beauty, fashion, whatever, that they'll do something regardless of the consequences it may have later in life. It's pretty shallow and vain that someone would voluntarily hurt their bodies in order to be beautiful.

If anything people should educate themsleves about positive/negative effects and on what they can do to protect themselves from the worst of them. Informative decisions are always the best ones!

[desiRAWR]

Originally Posted by Alex

OMFG. That sucks seriously ass that you have cancer, but you NEED the sun.

As for tanning everyday... in the summer time, alot of my friends tan non stop... all I do is work out on my porch with my shirt off, and I'm always way darker than anyone I know, and yes I am white. So to answer that I don't go tanning but I tan just by walking around in the sun.


Think of all the millions, maybe even over a billion people who tan regularly, how many actually get skin cancer?

Smoking is a way way WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY bigger risk of cancer, so why not preach about that? Why go against somehting we need to live?

Hmm Actually, I don't think she's preaching against the SUN. She's preaching against unnessessary tanning. There's ways to prevent it -- when you're out on that porch, are you putting sun block on? Why not wear a shirt so you don't get so tanned by just working. What about a hat? That's what she means. You're at risk too even if you're not actually sitting down in a chair and going to tan purposely. It's all about prevention!

About the millions of people who tan regularly and how many get skin cancer...well I wanted to post some statistics in here -- but my computer is taking SO very long to open up the pdf file on the cancer society website.

Smoking is probably way worse because the people who don't smoke are breathing in the disgusting second hand smoke by the people who do smoke.

You know? I learnt a very good lesson this past summer. The guy who was like my brother -- he'd known me since I was a week old -- found out he had skin cancer. Exactly one week after he found out, he passed away from it. It had spread SO rapidly -- multiplied and triplipied (ahh not a word? now it is.) that they couldn't do anything about it. He'd noticed the lump two weeks before. It was about the size of a pea. Two weeks later, it was the size of a mans clenched fist. They took it out, but it was too late. It spread to his liver, pancreas and kidneys (at least. There was one more place I believe) in a weeks time.

The cause? He spend every summer out on a lake -- waterskiing, suntanning and then burning. If I could go back to all those times he burnt I'd tell him to cover up or put some sunscreen on because maybe he'd be here right now.

Come on people. This is serious stuff. I'm not preaching, I'm just putting out some of the true facts of life out. Sure, almost everything can give you cancer, and we're going to die anyways right? Well, I'd rather die from old age, than die when I'm 26 from cancer.
I also know the value of my skin - and I'd rather make sure my skin looks good in years to come, instead of tanning now and making it look "good" right now.

Think about that.

[galaxie]

Originally Posted by Cdn_Brdr

You work at a tanning studio so obviously you're going to try and defend it but the bottom line is this:

Moderation or not it is still bad for you. Granted, moderation lessens the overall negative effects but it's still bad. People are so overly concerned with glamour, beauty, fashion, whatever, that they'll do something regardless of the consequences it may have later in life. It's pretty shallow and vain that someone would voluntarily hurt their bodies in order to be beautiful.

If anything people should educate themsleves about positive/negative effects and on what they can do to protect themselves from the worst of them. Informative decisions are always the best ones!

Actually, that's completely untrue.
For some people, the benefits of tanning outweigh the risks.

I started tanning because my doctor recommended it three years ago when I was suffering from some harsh depression. People pay approx. $30 - $40 PER 15 MINUTE SESSION for light treatment therapy under the SAME bulbs that we use at Fabutan, yet it is $28.99 per month for unlimited tanning at my studio. Before I started tanning, I did A LOT of research (I'm talking like I looked at research for over a month) on my own, to determine whether or not the risks outweighed the benefits for me. I decided that tanning could be very beneficial to me, and it has been. I'd much rather tan twice per week for 20 minutes a session to make myself feel cheery than take 2 40mg anti-depressants per day that make me feel plastic and emotionless.

Many of my clients have been recommended by their doctors and dermatologists for conditions such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, as well as SAD (Sesonal Affective Disorder) and some have been recommended because their dotcors feel they are at risk for developing osteoporosis - vitamin D (made in the skin when UV rays make contact) assists in the absorbtion of calcium into the body.

So, while there IS a risk of skin cancer for SOME individuals, for MANY the benefits of tanning far outweigh the risk of skin cancer. In addition, we do not allow people who have ever had an extremely serious burn to tan, as well, we do not allow people with very fair skin to tan as they are at a far higher risk to burn, and burning is what essentially causes the most damage.

As for this whole business about wrinkles and skin damage, a lot of the skin damage caused by the natural sun is due to the ozone layer depleting and allowing UVC rays to filter in. UVC rays are extremely harmful to our skin, however, tanning beds will NEVER contain any UVC rays. Ever notice how skin cancer has only become a real problem in the last 20ish years? This is because over the last 100 years the ozone layer has been depleting and allowing more UVC rays to seep through. Both my mom and my aunt used to BAKE outside slathered in baby oil for hours on end when they were teenagers and through their thirties, yet they are now 49 and 53 and neither of them looks a day over 40, and neither of them have any severe wrinkling. You have to remember that wrinkles, as well as skin cancer, can also be GENETIC and are not only caused by outside factors.

Tanning indoors in low-pressure beds is actually far safer than tanning outdoors as it is in a controlled environment with a constant strength of rays. Outside, the strength of the sun depends on the time of day, cloud cover, etc. which can change at any time. Personally, I would much rather tan in a controlled environment than not know what is in store for me in the natural sun.

I do agree with Rhianna in the sense that some people CAN overdo it. Turning orange is NEVER good - it looks SO ugly. One runs the risk of turning orange if using cheap lotions and going to cheap, low-quality studios or going stand up tanning. Mystic tan can also look REALLY REALLY horribly orange, so don't assume that tanning beds cause the orange look.

[tvmann]

Same thing happened to my dad. He liked to go fishing and boating a lot, and vacations on the beach. This was not just a little, but obviously WAY TOO MUCH, although he did use the SPF max. Eventually got minor skin cancer which was removed, but it came back, and then liver cancer and that was that.

It can happen to young people too. There was a story in the Sun several years ago. There was this very good looking female UBC medical student, about 25. She liked to get tanned on the beaches near UBC. Got skin cancer. While it was inactive, she decided to specialize in dermatology. Too late, she never graduated, and the cancer got her. Sad and ironic story.

Originally Posted by desiRAWR

You know? I learnt a very good lesson this past summer. The guy who was like my brother -- he'd known me since I was a week old -- found out he had skin cancer. Exactly one week after he found out, he passed away from it. It had spread SO rapidly -- multiplied and triplipied (ahh not a word? now it is.) that they couldn't do anything about it. He'd noticed the lump two weeks before. It was about the size of a pea. Two weeks later, it was the size of a mans clenched fist. They took it out, but it was too late. It spread to his liver, pancreas and kidneys (at least. There was one more place I believe) in a weeks time.

The cause? He spend every summer out on a lake -- waterskiing, suntanning and then burning. If I could go back to all those times he burnt I'd tell him to cover up or put some sunscreen on because maybe he'd be here right now.

Come on people. This is serious stuff. I'm not preaching, I'm just putting out some of the true facts of life out. Sure, almost everything can give you cancer, and we're going to die anyways right? Well, I'd rather die from old age, than die when I'm 26 from cancer.
I also know the value of my skin - and I'd rather make sure my skin looks good in years to come, instead of tanning now and making it look "good" right now.

Think about that.

[mugsy]

Originally Posted by galaxie

So, while there IS a risk of skin cancer for SOME individuals, for MANY the benefits of tanning far outweigh the risk of skin cancer. In addition, we do not allow people who have ever had an extremely serious burn to tan, as well, we do not allow people with very fair skin to tan as they are at a far higher risk to burn, and burning is what essentially causes the most damage.

Both my mom and my aunt used to BAKE outside slathered in baby oil for hours on end when they were teenagers and through their thirties, yet they are now 49 and 53 and neither of them looks a day over 40, and neither of them have any severe wrinkling. You have to remember that wrinkles, as well as skin cancer, can also be GENETIC and are not only caused by outside factors.

I do agree with Rhianna in the sense that some people CAN overdo it. Turning orange is NEVER good - it looks SO ugly. One runs the risk of turning orange if using cheap lotions and going to cheap, low-quality studios or going stand up tanning. Mystic tan can also look REALLY REALLY horribly orange, so don't assume that tanning beds cause the orange look.

on the first paragraph quoted, how can anything outwiegh the risk of cancer? maybe im sensitive because of what i am experiencing at the moment, but i dont see how anything can be better than maybe getting cancer. NOTHING outweighs that in my books. also how do you know if your at a lower risk at receiving skin cancer than others? neither of my grandparents on both sides of the family had skin cancer, yet both my parents have had alot removed. my dad is not fair skinned at all, and he had numerous amounts of skin cancer cut off him from age 30 onwards. just because its not in your family history does not mean you're protected from it.

on the second paragraph, my mom grew up in california for her younger years, then moved to oregon which is extremely hot in the summer time. shes in her late 40's looks really good fro age, but has had alot of skin cancer cut off, and a tumor under skin that was inside her nasal cavatie, into the roof of her mouth and proceeding into her brain area. it was inoperable, but treatable with spot radiation. yes, my mom looks good, but to go through all that?

third paragraph, i agree of course. theres always people that over-do everything and anything in life. and its their own problem. its like smokers, they know its wrong, but its up to them to stop.

again i just want to say just as in previous posts, its about enjoying yourself in the sun, not baking yourself under it. there is no need for a tan in the winter, its winter for shits-sake. your supposed to be pale.

[Ms.Chop]

well luckily i am western european, and luckily no one in both sides of my family -- and any full portuguese/italian/greek person i kno have had or will have skin cancer..

ye maybe if u over do it at sun beds..
but the luckily hood for me would be not that easy.

and plus.. since i moved to BC ive noticed i cant tan as easily.. the climate is not as humid as back east so its harder for my skin to tan.
so tanning beds do work for me.. cuz i can keep that NATURAL look to me.. cuz i was born dark.. i jus sumhow lost my color..

and luckily if i tan i dont look ORANGE.