Does anyone else find it strange that people brag about how messed up they get on a heavy night out boozing, even though we know it can kill people or cause serious long term health issues, but mention that you go on a sunbed once or twice a year are your tarred as responsible and vain? I know the risks of sunbeds. At my old place of work my boss had a huge chunk of flesh missing from one of her arms as a result of skin cancer. Using sunbeds before the age of 35 increases your risk of skin cancer by 75% and sunbeds emit rays 10 to 15 times stronger than the midday sun.
On the other hand I am half Scottish, half Italian. Without time in the sun I am deathly pale but when I do get a bit of sun the Italian in me comes out and I easily turn a lovely golden brown (if I do say so myself)!
I also suffer from acne and skin allergies which means finding a fake tan which doesn’t cause me to break out in spots and/or a rash very difficult. My solution is to use sunbeds...very...very occasionally.
I am 27 and I have used sunbeds 3 times in my life. Once during the two weeks leading up to a holiday in Cuba, once during the two weeks leading up to one of my best friends wedding and once in the two weeks leading up to my sister in laws wedding. That’s it. Throughout those two week sessions I went on sunbeds 4 times for between 3 and 6 minutes and these two week sessions were a year apart from each other.
I take care of my skin when I go on holiday and always wear a lot of high factor suncream and I can honestly say that as an adult I can’t remember ever being burnt. I guess it’s like smoking 4 cigarettes a year through your life. That’s not going to kill you right?
Singer Sandi Thom as she is now, as she will look at 57 and as she would look at 57 if she used sunbeds through her life.
I don’t get drunk and haven’t done so since I was in my very early 20s. I have never smoked or taken drugs. I always remove my make-up before I go to bed. I eat my 5 a day. I exercise regularly. I try to avoid foods with additives and make-up with unnecessary chemicals. So 4 sunbeds every few years is ok isn’t it?I am not saying everyone should go out and have a sunbed by the way. You have to be sooooo careful. If you don’t tan in the sun you will not tan on a sunbed and 20 minute sessions at a time are a bad idea regardless of your skin tone. Just like you shouldn’t get drunk everyday you definitely shouldn’t go on sunbeds everyday!
What do you guys think? People burn themselves stupid on holiday every year so is my careful, controlled sunbed use once in a blue moon really any worse? I feel riddled with shame regardless and quite honestly terrified by some of the shocking images of the effects of sun bed use I've seen. I have my best girl Kirsty's wedding coming up in August and this time I'm opting for a spray tan from a salon and risking an allergic reaction. Does this mean I'll never use sunbeds again? I really don't know.
Lisa x
