Does anyone know about tanning or just being out in the sun regularly? I'm 27 years old and have been mostly avoiding direct sun exposure for the last 7 years. Mainly because "they" say it is so bad for you. I'm really pale these days and I think I would not only look better but feel better too if I started getting some sun. Is the skin cancer thing just medical scare like everything else or does it really give most people skin cancer?
Tanning and Skin Cancer?
- Thread starter MikeyK
- Start date
jinxypie
Official Checked Star Member
The sun also helps our bodies with producing Vitamin D. Like Shifty said, everything in moderation. 
Found this article, you may want to check it out. (Couple years old, but still very good info.)
Found this article, you may want to check it out. (Couple years old, but still very good info.)
My mother died of skin cancer. I am a registered nurse and this is probably the worst type of cancer to die from. A little sun is not bad but over doing it is. Always use sun tan lotion. Something on the order 0f 15 SPF or greater. If you have an area of skin that has burnt do not go back out till your skin is fully healed. If your swimming or being physical and sweating alot you should reapply your suntan lotion every 1 1/2 to 2 hours. There is no such thing as water proof sun tan lotion. The FDA is actually going to put a ban on manufactures saying they are waterproof next year. Just be smart.
I've studied this in college some time ago. I won't go back in my textbooks or anything. I’m sticking to the essentials here.
Sun exposure IS related to skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the population (male and female), BUT most skin cancers are benign (the risk of causing a serious illness is really low, so you can live with it, but it's better to have it checked out anyway...).
Malignant (associated to high risk of complications including death) skin cancers (eg. melanoma) are not as frequent, but highly dangerous, so you better protect yourself by putting on sun tan lotion, covering yourself when going out in the sun or just avoiding staying in the sun for long periods of time.
Caucasians are at higher risk of getting ANY TYPE of skin cancer (malignant or benign), especially on body parts/spots that are frequently exposed to sunlight. Black people can also get it, but it’s harder to diagnose and sometimes they get it in hard-to-check places like under the fingernails.
Now the thing to beware of is FREQUENT and INTERMITTENT sun exposure. That’s the major cause of skin cancer. INTERMITTENT exposure to the sun is more dangerous than CONTINUOUS exposure, studies have found. Also, if you have moles (especially large ones) on your body, You Might want to examine them yourself from time to time and note any changes in color, shape, size. If you see anything suspicious, have them checked by a doctor. Your doctor should examine your skin for any changes whenever he/she’s doing a complete check-up exam.
So my advice to those who wonder if they should avoid sunlight exposure is: don’t avoid it completely. It’s MOSTLY good for you since it turns the inactive form of vitamin D (that you already have in your body) to its active form (that helps calcium make bones stronger). But for that to take place you only need about 15 minutes of daily sunlight exposure on your extremities (eg. hands or feet). So be careful and protect your skin with sun lotion, hats, clothes, especially if you know that you’re going to spend a lot of time in the sun.
Hope it helped! You should, however, seek professional advice if you’re really concerned.
Sun exposure IS related to skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the population (male and female), BUT most skin cancers are benign (the risk of causing a serious illness is really low, so you can live with it, but it's better to have it checked out anyway...).
Malignant (associated to high risk of complications including death) skin cancers (eg. melanoma) are not as frequent, but highly dangerous, so you better protect yourself by putting on sun tan lotion, covering yourself when going out in the sun or just avoiding staying in the sun for long periods of time.
Caucasians are at higher risk of getting ANY TYPE of skin cancer (malignant or benign), especially on body parts/spots that are frequently exposed to sunlight. Black people can also get it, but it’s harder to diagnose and sometimes they get it in hard-to-check places like under the fingernails.
Now the thing to beware of is FREQUENT and INTERMITTENT sun exposure. That’s the major cause of skin cancer. INTERMITTENT exposure to the sun is more dangerous than CONTINUOUS exposure, studies have found. Also, if you have moles (especially large ones) on your body, You Might want to examine them yourself from time to time and note any changes in color, shape, size. If you see anything suspicious, have them checked by a doctor. Your doctor should examine your skin for any changes whenever he/she’s doing a complete check-up exam.
So my advice to those who wonder if they should avoid sunlight exposure is: don’t avoid it completely. It’s MOSTLY good for you since it turns the inactive form of vitamin D (that you already have in your body) to its active form (that helps calcium make bones stronger). But for that to take place you only need about 15 minutes of daily sunlight exposure on your extremities (eg. hands or feet). So be careful and protect your skin with sun lotion, hats, clothes, especially if you know that you’re going to spend a lot of time in the sun.
Hope it helped! You should, however, seek professional advice if you’re really concerned.
SpexyAshleigh
Official Checked Star Member
I think there's a huge difference between enjoying a day at the beach and spending 8 hours baking in the sun/tanning bed. Don't be afraid to go outdoors if you're wearing SPF but if you're seeking out a super-tanned look that you want to maintain over a long period of time....probably best to re-think that. Having one cigarette won't cause lung cancer, but smoking nonstop for 20 years will certainly tempt it.
Vanilla Bear
Bears For Life
Never go sunbathing without sunscreen!!! The problem is the sunburn!
If you get a sunburn you can also get skin cancer. My brother got skin cancer, because he had a huge sun burn when he was younger.
But yes, like Jinxy said, the sun is important for us. Especially considering the Vit D. So go out and enjoy the sun. But don't forget the sunscreen! :thumbsup:
If you get a sunburn you can also get skin cancer. My brother got skin cancer, because he had a huge sun burn when he was younger.
But yes, like Jinxy said, the sun is important for us. Especially considering the Vit D. So go out and enjoy the sun. But don't forget the sunscreen! :thumbsup:
If you are "sunbathing" and not just out in the sun doing activities there is no point in wearing sunscreen. Sunscreen just lengthens the amount of time you can go out in the sun without burning. Blocking out the "bad" uvb or uva rays is just a myth.
If the OPs goal is to get a tan just limit the amount of time you're in the sun to about 10-20 mins depending on the state you live in/time of day before your skin starts to burn. I personally think it is healthy to get some sun not only because of the vitamin d you get but just because it makes you feel better compared to no sun. Like already mentioned moderation is key.
As people here have said you need some Sun everyday for Vitamin D, I think I remember reading around half hour a day for white people although I could be horribly mistaken. If you go short of Vit D you could end up with Osteoporosis later in life or even heart disease and ironically cancer!
http://www.livestrong.com/article/89233-side-effects-lack-vitamin-d/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/89233-side-effects-lack-vitamin-d/
Vanilla Bear
Bears For Life
Yes, that's what I meant.
You can get skin cancer starting from underneath the finger nails? FUCK?!
Believe it or not a very commnon place for skin cancer to start is behind the eyeballs. Thats why you should always wear a pair oakley sunglasses. They are always rated the highest for uva and uvb protection.
RichardNailder
Approved Content Owner
Cut it out!
All this talk about the dangers of tanning is diminishing the effectiveness of my new toy!
All this talk about the dangers of tanning is diminishing the effectiveness of my new toy!
I agree. If you are trying to get tan, then putting on sunscreen before you go out just seems like a waste of time and money. That is, only if you are going out for an hour or less. If you are spending hours at a time outside then definitely use sunscreen.
Also, how would you define sunburn? I can get a little red, but it doesn't hurt or peel. Sunburn, to me, is when your skin physically hurts and then peels.
I always use aloe lotion after a little sun bathing to help heal and hydrate the skin.
Avoiding direct sunlight for the most part has kept my skin looking youthful. The main reason is I just do not like being hot, the other is a concern for skin cancer.
Yea if you are going to be out for any long amount of time to do activities and not just tan then like I said you should wear a sun screen to avoid burning.
A little red is ok but I would agree that sunburn is when your skin loses all of its hydration and you start to peel/blister. If the op is trying to get tan it is important for him to know how long he can stay out without starting to burn, it all depends on skin type.
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