Everyone wants to
be that tanned god or goddess now and why shouldn’t they?! especially with
lighter complexions, we prefer to have a tan because we want to look more
radiant and having that tan makes us feel better about ourselves.
I was probably
the spottiest child in school, acne has controlled my life from the age of around
10 or 11. Not the odd one or two, I was covered. Cheeks, forehead, chest and
and the worst was on my back. As a kid this can really effect your confidence
and growing into a young adult.
It took me a
couple of holidays to realise my skin was always clearer on my return,
plus I’d have the glow and who doesn’t love that!! Whist at university I
visited my grandparents in Portugal, when I came back to sunny England my
friends kept telling me how much better my skin looked, I was beaming! One of
the girls who was a regular on the sunbeds mentioned to me that I should try it
for my skin, I would always tell her off for it and not to mention the Final
Destination film scared the crazy out of me!!
There are pros
and cons to a sunbed and I had to research them all before I could face my fear
and jump on! I am now an every now and then sunbed goer, not for the tan I don’t
go on often enough or long enough for that but my skin is better than it has
ever been.
A sunbed is
funnily enough a bed; this toasty warm bed produces ultraviolet (UV) radiation
which is used to achieve a tanned complexion, sounds scary but it isn’t... If
you are thinking of using sunbeds like I was, think of all the options and if
it is really worth doing. Even talking to your doctor or GP about it when deciding to tan on a sunbed or not, it is important
to remember the health risks as well as potential benefits.
First
and foremost, we will get the negatives out of the way cancer being the top negative
on everyone’s list. Numerous studies have been done and shown to have been
associated with squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, which are skin cancers,
as well as ocular melanoma, which is an eye cancer. Not wearing the goggles
provided can increase your risk of eye cancer. It has been noted that
people who tan in sunbeds are more likely to develop skin cancer over someone
who has never used one. Any form of UV radiation exposure is deemed unsafe and could
damage your skin cells.
Another
can be seen as premature aging. Sunbeds can dry out the skin causing a loss of
elasticity in the skin and naturally depleting it over time, diminishing
even faster and damaging the skin cells. This is responsible for wrinkles on
our skin, which age you much faster than you would normally.
An obvious
negative can be sunburn. Sunbeds can cause it just like sunbathing on a hot beautiful
day. People with fair skin can be prone to burning on a tanning bed, especially
us with that ginger gene! Tt can cause people with sensitive skin to have an
allergic reaction to the UV radiation and will experience a red, itchy rash.
Right!!!
Let’s be a bit more positive please, I really dislike being a negative nelly! One
of the obvious benefits of using a sunbed is the beautiful glowing tan that it
gives you, people believe that tanned skin is more attractive. Having that tan
can help to reduce any imperfections that you may have concerns about on your
body cellulite being a massive one!
For
myself I find that there is something oddly relaxing about stripping down and
getting into a cosy warm sunbed (I don’t like tan lines…). Where I go is
amazing, the girls that work there are so lovely and I can even put on my own
music and sing my heart out! It is a very calm experience and not scary at all.
However, I’m not so sure how calm the people listening to me sing are…
I
have also seen in research that those with dermatitis and psoriasis may find
relief with medically advised treatment with UV rays. Self-treatment at your
local tanning salon, however, is not recommended.
For
me personally it was my acne and how reducing my skin problem has given me the
confidence to love my skin out of makeup. I tried all of the creams and strong
medication that the doctor prescribed, one that actually worked after years and
years it was amazing and I can go into detail about my skin regime another
time, however to summarise… Yes, there are some massive negatives about jumping
on a sunbed, you have to do it for the right reasons for you.
Sorry for the gay pose and trout pout... It was late... Naked skin and I love it!! (P.S. Not drawn my eyebrows on just tinted them yesterday).
Where I visit –
Instagram @thetanningshopbirmingham
What I use when I tan –
Australian Gold,
dark tanning accelerator.
(Not to be used
as a sunscreen and does not protect against sunburn).
ALWAYS WEAR GOGGLES!!!!
Research,
read and be safe guys!!
Lots
of love, Saffron. Xx
