Tanning

Eeeeeeh · 05-12-2004

Well my cousin is having a pool party in about 3 weeks and I wanted to know if that is enough time to get a good, even tan. I have what is called a "farmers tan". The back of my neck and my hands up to the middle of my biceps are darker than my stomach, chest, and back. My feet are very white compared to my legs up to my knees, where the color changes back to white again.

I was wondering if I can get a even tan without getting my arms and neck darker than they already are. I think that going to a tanning place would be the best place to get a tan. I don't want my chest, stomach, and back as dark as my arms, but I would like it to blend in a little more. Any Advice??

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SimplySLB · 05-12-2004

Hmm, the only way you wouldn't get more tan where you already are, is if you wear clothes or something to cover that part of your body up. Otherwise, it will just get darker there too.

EuroSpec328is · 05-14-2004

Actually, I've heard tanning beds are bad on the skin. The sun is your best bet.

Kable · 05-14-2004

just go swimmin everyday

cryption · 05-14-2004

put SPF 30 on the darker part and SPF15 on the white part and go lay out for a while. You'll be all set

streetglower · 05-14-2004

just use a tanning bed, so many people use them, its ok.

Cat · 05-14-2004

Please do NOT use a tanning bed! They're more dangerous to you than the sun.

I say, don't sweat it. Who cares if you're a little whiter in other areas! But if it really makes a difference to you, the only thing you can do is just sit out in the sun.

cryption · 05-14-2004

tanning beds cause cancer real quick .. avoid those

2k2redcivic · 05-14-2004

DEF dont go tanning on a bed. id use the lotion trick.

Eeeeeeh · 05-14-2004

Yeah that is what i am thinking about doing. Maybe some sort of sunblock on the darker areas of my body and then no sunblock on the white area. I don't know whether to do this at the tanning beds though. Probablly not from what i am hearing. I don't want my skin coming out all f*cked up or whatever lol

cryption · 05-14-2004

yeah just do my sunblock trick and lay out in the al natural texas sun ... you'll get enough of it

cdmx · 05-15-2004

Crap i know SO many girls that use tanning beds

someone go into more explation....like what is EXCESSIVE USE

rickinthescv · 05-15-2004

What misinformation.

A suntan is the your body's natural reaction to exposure to UV rays, namely from the sun. Some sun exposure is good for you. It elevates your mood, helps stimulate your body to burn more energy, and your skin photosynthesizes the light to create vitamin D.

Tanning beds are not artificial light. Light is light. Whether from a bulb or the sun. Light bulbs are light too, just a smaller spectrum than the direct sunlight.

Different spectrums of light:
UV C causes cancer, it is normally blocked by the ozone. That is why the ozone is good. Our bodies cannot protect ourselves from UV C.

UV B causes sunburns. This is what you usually get from laying out in the sun too long. A sun tan does offer protection against UV B, but sun screen is your best bet.

UV A is what causes tans. UV A stimulates your skin to produce melonin, which oxidizes and turns brown. This is the tan you see.

Most tanning beds use light bulbs that have a small spectrum of light. They have a small percentage of UV B and a large percentage of UV A.

So is tanning safe? NO one says get burned, especially tanning salon owners, but it is just as safe to be in the sun as go to a tanning salon. Most can also agree that excessive tanning, whether by a tanning bed or sun will cause premature aging. But in moderation, a trip to the tanning salon can increase vitamin D, elevate your mood, increase your metabolism, and offer some protection from the sun. Additionally, some skin disorders are actually treated by going to a tanning bed. Darker skin burns less easily.

Types of beds:
Normal beds use bulbs of around 100 watts each. Can have from 16 to 24 bulbs. Normal session is from 10 minutes to 30. Normally takes 2 to 3 weeks to build a base tan. Normally have from 5-10 percent UV B.

VHR beds use 160 watt bulbs that have 1 percent UV B. More tanning ray, less burning ray. Normal sessions are 10-15 minutes. Base tan is usually in 1 week.

High pressure use 300 watt bulbs with less than 1/2 percent UV B. Base tan is possible in 2 sessions. Normal time is 10 to 12 minutes per side. Most high pressure beds have lamps on one side, so you have to turn over.

So yes, it is possible to even out your skin color in 3 weeks. And you will look much better, have less chance of burning on your white areas, and get the chicks. Unless you want a farmers tan and want to be the brunt of jokes. Tan skin looks better. Go to a reputable salon. Take their advice.

If you pm me your information, i.e. money willing to spend, time willing to go, and hair color, eye color, ethnicity, and history of tanning (do you tan easily or burn easily) I could offer you some direct advice.

Just don't burn. A sun burn is never good. A burn does not turn into a tan. Just the burn goes away and you are left with a tan. But burning is what leads to skin cancer.

4bangin · 05-16-2004

i started tanning this year about a month ago, i go about twice a week. i did it for the fact that usually i have outdoor summer jobs which gets me nice and dark, this year im in doors, so i go tanning to have a decent tan for the summer. no harm done. i started out short time frames now go the 20 min, and i have never burned from it. u just have to have to take your time and not rush into a tan, but get one gradually.

iluvbritney · 05-18-2004

wat about spray on tans?