My hubbie and I are going to Maui in a couple of weeks. We've never been to a really sunny climate before.

My friend Pam says I should go to the do the tanning bed thing before I go.

I'm a little dubious though. Not only is it bad for you, but I hear you can get crabs from them. Is this true?

Thanks,

-Darvy

I use tanning beds every spring in order not to burn once the summer sun comes out. My dermatologist hates it. He says it causes as much skin cancer as the sun. I'm sure this is true. As far as crabs, In the 10 yrs that I have been doing it, have never known this to be true. If you don't want to be tanned (or burned) on your trip just use 30 and keep applying often.

Tanning.. well.. do you like the sun?

If you do enjoy being outdoors, condition your skin, find a reputable, clean tanning salon.

Some people will burn much easier than others!

I'm tanning now.. for a trip in July.. do it slowly..

What is worse? to get a sunburn the first few hours out!!! and NOT enjoy the vacation?

When you are in surgery for a melanoma,you will wish that all you got was crabs.

I agree with above post. It's like sauteing your chicken before you broil it. Same outcome- burned, charred skin.

Darvy:

I know your dilemma. I went to Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida in Nov. 2000 and May 2001. Both times I used a tanning bed before going. During that time, I would always cover my face w/a fishing hat as the face would show exposure to UV mostly if exposed. It sure was nice to go to Florida and only have to wear an SPF 4 the whole time instead of the thick stuff or nothing at all and get no burn. I can't preach but I wouldn't go anymore. If it's a once in a lifetime vacation, I don't want to screw it up in a major way w/sunburn-blister type exposure, I would do it. However, go slow. Go 10 minutes at first and then 1 or 2 minutes more each time you go instead of doing what the stupid teenagers do and go 20 minutes the first time. Even after you work yourself up to 14 minutes you'll see a definate tan.

Getting a tan before you go is nice, but it will NOT protect you from burning once you get to your intensely sunny destination. I tan very easily, but always use a sun block when exposed to strong summer or tropical sun.

My best friend died at age 36 from melanoma 6 months ago. Is getting a tan worth dying for? PLEASE forget the tan and protect yourself with lots of sunscreen!

I tan easily, too, but prefer to use SPF 45 so I don't get wrinkly in my old age (wish me luck). However, I understand the embarrassment of paper-white legs, so this summer, I'm trying www.hollywoodtan.com. I saw it on Good Morning American and seems soooo much easier than applying self-tanner myself. Or, get a really good girlfriend to do the dirty work of applying self tanner, soemone else whould have a better chance of keeping the color even.

I have to agree with the last poster reagrding avoiding tanning beds. I live in Hawaii and see people who are totally red and sunburned. Nothing will ruin a vacation faster than a terrible burn. A tanning bed is no safer than regular sun exposure. If you aren't used to sunny climates you will burn here because the sun is much much more intense.

The safest and most sane thing is to wear good sunscreen (SPF15 or SPF30) which is waterproof and reapply it regularly (Coppertone Sport is good and doesn't feel too gloppy). You will still pick up some color. If you want a safe tan try a self-tanning lotion (I like Neutrogena's self-tanning spray - dries quick, looks natural, etc.)

Never mind, I thought Hollywood Tan was the spray-booth. Anyone know the name of that place?

Tanning beds are great, depending on how you like your skin cancer. There are basal cells. Nice little things that make big, hard, ugly knots on the back of your neck. But there also those that form under the skin on the cheeks and can invade the eye if not removed. Usually a 4 inch incision will enable a good microsurgeon to get it out, but it depends on how far it has gone. (My dermatlogist took some real neat pictures of my cheek when he had it pulled open with those little hooks. Nice pretty red where he was digging out the pieces.)
Then there are those neat little squamous cell carcinomas that form on the face, backs of hands, tops of ears, backs of necks, shoulders, etc. They form hard white little patches sometimes, or discolored growths if you let them mature. Quite colorful as they get older, often bloody.
Then there are the sinister melanoma cells that turn an ugly black, and kill.
Like in D - E - A - D dead. Of course you might easily die of something else first. So tan away. You can then have a race to see who has surgery first.
Lots of good dermatologists around.
They do a good job of taking off the squamous and basal cells. Melanoma is a different story.
Also it might confort you to know that a slight tan only does slight damage to the skin's DNA. But the body reverses the damage only with difficulty.

What ever you do--use the highest sun block you can find. No matter how dark you are, you will get burned with out it in Hawaii. Last time I was there, my friend decided to go without and got absolutely fried.

two words: skin cancer

you only have to look at the hollywood stars to see they are all either pale and interesting or faked to the max,i live in the u.k so i can show you pale, do your self a favour fake it ,fake tans are so good now . go to a salon the day before you go ,have a massage,have a fake applied.
no cancer no wrinkles.
ejoy your holiday.

Our golden retriever loves to lay in the sun and swim. He developed a black spot on his head. Turned out it was melanoma. Our vet told us he is seeing more and more cases of melanoma in dogs. If dogs with fur are developing melanoma think about what the sun does to human skin. Tanning beds are no better. And, if the health reasons are not a big incentive, your face is going to be wrinkled when you hit 40.

Did you see "Something about Mary"?

Use the tan in a bottle. You'll appreciate it later when you don't look like an old hag.

Where I live, the women are starting to get smart and have stopped tanning.
In fact, it has become a sort of snobbish way to view others, the smart ones with money stay pale, the "others" lay out in the sun and get a dark and leathery,sort of class system here.Usually the ones with tans smoke too.

Some people like to do more in life than just sit under an umbrella and fear the sun. I like participating in water activities so I go in the sun.

All things in moderation are O.K., including tanning beds. PROLONGED use COULD give you skin cancer, but 2 or 3 visits every year won't hurt you. I say go for it, but don't abuse it, and don't listen to the doomsday-scenario threads above.

Have fun on your trip.