When I was in high school, I used to bed tan. Given that it rains a lot in Seattle, it was a popular activity. I remember feeling like I had seasonal depression, living in a place where the fall and winter were gray and thinking my only escape was that warm little cocoon of a tanning bed. I would lay in it for 10-15 minutes, close my eyes, and pretend I was baking on the beach somewhere. Yeah, I know, Iām cringing even writing this. Itās actually pretty embarrassing but I think itās important to share this part of my past because as Iāve gotten older and learned new information about tanning beds, I wish someone had stopped me. So, to any young girl or guy out there, or actually anyone whoās using them, this is your chance to hear the horror stories from a very real person who also used to use them. Take this as an older sister whoās telling you not to make the same mistakes I did.
Living pretty much on my own, I didnāt have anyone to tell me it was dangerous or assert any authority. I can say, though, I do regret it and no matter how tan I was and how good I thought I looked lol, it wasnāt worth the damage I did to my skin. And thank goodness, I became informed and stopped while I was still young.
Your skin is your largest organ and one that needs the same protection and attention as any other: You wouldnāt put your liver in a machine you knew would damage it, right? We need to be reminded to treat our bodies with respect and love: To nourish them, in order to be able to live and work to the best of our abilities. With that in mind, it’s of utmost importance to quit the tanning beds. The results from the research studies done are astounding. Using indoor tanning beds before age 35 can increase your risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, by 59 percent. And that risk increases every time you use one. That statistic alone should have them outlawed. I definitely gained a lot of freckles while tanning, ones that I now have to get checked annually, which is a bit scary. As a result, I rarely tan outside anymore. I know I did so much damage to my skin when I was younger, particularly my junior and senior year of high school. I now try to stay out of the sun to preserve my skin. When I do go out into the sun, I wear lots of sunblock, hats, and try to cover my shoulders.
You may be wondering, if I stay out of the sun so much, how come Iām so tan in some of my photos? I love spray tans! And theyāre much better for you than bed tanning. And they give you the same tan you would get sitting outside for 6 days straight, in one 5 minute session. Sometimes I get them airbrushed and other times Iāll go to the machine ones that are cheaper and faster. The airbrush ones are more natural looking because even though I do the machine ones sometimes, you can usually tell itās a spray on your hands. Thatās where it doesnāt blend well.
To keep my tan, Iāll use St. Tropez face tanning spray. Thatās also a good alternative to just wanting a little glow on your face. Iāll use it in the summer after I shower and let it sit for a few hours then wash it off. Then I donāt wear any face make up besides that. If youāre breaking out, though, I wouldnāt recommend using chemicals on your face. Iāve gone to a bunch of places in both Seattle and New York, and my favorites are Benefit for their airbrush tan (medium) or the Versa Spa in clear 2 and I use the barrier cream on my hands. And then wash my hands after the spray, because orange hands are a dead giveaway.
I understand that they are still chemicals that you are spraying on your skin. And remember, that anything you spray on yourself, you are ingesting in one way or another. So be aware of this! I donāt spray tan often, but I do when I travel to a hot place or have an event, or need a little pick me up. I prefer being tan to pale, but thatās just me. There are also places that use more natural formulas made from cocoa and different extracts. Iāve tried one before and it smelled amazing but the color was really orange. The best thing about spray tans is even if you get a horrible one and are orange (happened to me before) they fade within a week. So youāre back to your normal skin by then. So fear not, theyāre temporary!
Going out in the sun is the healthiest, since in doing so, you’re also making Vitamin D. But be sure to use lots of sunblock and make sure not to burn! Second healthiest, would be to get one of those ānaturalā spray tans. And remember, anything is better than bed tanning. Just wanted to give you some food for thought on tanning.
When I get a spray tan:
- Shave night before
- Moisturize a lot
- Morning of (shower to wash off any oils or lotions)
- Get spray tan
- Remember the tan will develop, so it wonāt be how dark itās going to be when you first get it opposed to after waiting the recommended time
- Wear loose fitting clothes and I always wear sandals (dark clothes in case the spray gets on them)
- Donāt sweat or run around a lot, you donāt want to get wet for 5-8 hours
- I tend to think the whole 8 hours makes me orange so I wait 5-6 depending how dark Iām getting and my mood
- Then shower it off and donāt use scrubs ( I think sprays smell gross, so showering is a must)
- I usually get them during the day and shower before I go to bed. Iāve gone to bed while letting a spray tan set before and it dyed my white sheets and made them smell. And it overdeveloped and I looked like a pumpkin in the morning.
- Moisturize!! This is how to make your tan last.
- It will fade the fastest on your face because thatās what youāll be washing the most and rubbing. And taking off your makeup if you wear any. Use St Tropez face spray if you want to keep it. Or just apply some bronzer š
Work Cited:
American Academy of Dermatology. “Indoor Tanning.” Dangers of Indoor Tanning. AAD, 2015. Web. 05 May 2016.