Do you tan for good health?

[justjulia]

My brother and I got into this interesting conversation today about the benefits of sunlight and its cancer fighting properties. I haven''t researched it myself, but I hear it is being promoted in Canada for this reason. Have you heard of people getting "tans" to keep healthy? I know this must be driving dermatologists crazy to have this in the news. Seems I heard some time ago about getting sunlight can help prevent breast cancer. Makes me want to look into regular tanning (within moderation of course). What do you think about this?

 

[zoebartlett]

I''ve heard people say that others look healthier when they have more color. I tend to burn easily and then after a while I get sort of tan. I have fair skin and I need to be careful in the sun. I do like a nice tan in the summer though. I don''t think I''d ever go tanning in a tanning bed though. I''ve never heard about it in the way you''re talking about though. I''ve never heard of the health benefits to tanning but it is interesting.

 

[Sundial]

My dermatologist would certainly dispute this! I have gone to a tanning booth a few times before trips to tropical destinations like Hawaii and Tahiti and he has had a fit. I have already had two skin cancers removed from my forearms.

 

[justjulia]

Date: 6/24/2007 10:18:41 PM
Author: Sundial
My dermatologist would certainly dispute this! I have gone to a tanning booth a few times before trips to tropical destinations like Hawaii and Tahiti and he has had a fit. I have already had two skin cancers removed from my forearms.

Oh goodness. That is concerning. I wonder, too, about all the varieties of tanning facilities and ages of equipment, etc etc.

 

[Sundial]

He doesn''t like tanning booths, but neither does he advocate sun exposure. In fact he is always telling me how his wife is allergic to the sun and has always had to wear hats and stay inside and how young and wrinkle free she looks now that she is in her sixties.

 

[Skippy123]

I heard being in the sun helps acne go away. I naturally tan easier due to my Spanish and German genes

Hubby burns due to his English genes.

Does anyone know how long spf 15 lasts? I told hubby he needs to use 30 like me because it lasts longer than 15. I heard that somewhere.

 

[neatfreak]

Well, sunlight in small doses gives you vitamin D which is important to health in a variety of ways. Perhaps that is what the article was talking about? Tanning in general is really not good for you at all, so I doubt that "tanning" prevents any kind of cancer. More than likely it''s a bit of sun say compared to populations who go without sun for months at a time?

Just guessing here though, but my dermatologist said there is NO reason other than vanity to tan.

 

[Apsara]

The SPF factor indicates how many times your normal exposure you can stay in the sun before burning. For example, if without sunsceen, you can be in the sun 10 minutes before burning, then an SPF of 15 = 15 X 10 min = 150 minutes. Personally, I always find I need to reapply sooner than the SPF would indicate.

 

[ljmorgan]

Hey there, studies have stated that sun exposure is good for health as neatfreak mentioned. Sun exposure has benefits, but you don''t need to "tan" to get these benefits. Slather on your sun screen, and heading out into the sun for 15-20 minutes is all that is needed to gain those healthy benefits. "Tanning" is actually your body responding to the sun damaging your skin, producing melanin to protect your skin from further damage.

When I was a teenager I had a skin condition that made my dermatologist recommend me going to a tanning bed (it helps clear up the condition), but only 10 minutes at a time, and I had to wear sunscreen, so I never got tan

 

[monarch64]

I''m one of those everything-in-moderation people. I think a typical amount of sun exposure, say being outdoors taking a walk, or playing volleyball on the beach, probably doesn''t do THAT much harm. I think a bit of sun is good for you. It helps your attitude, stress levels, etc., and if you don''t get enough Vitamin D in your diet sun exposure is one other way to get it. You just can''t be baking yourself all the time and think botox will cure your leathery skin later in life, lol!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I think it''s very important for people to get outside everyday for as long as possible (as yes, light improves mood and fresh air increases energy), but it''s unwise (IMO) to be running around without sunscreen on. I usually try and get a bit of color at the end of spring but then use photo stable sunscreen throughout the summer to protect myself. I also use photo stable SS on my face year round. (but I''m a fanatic about anti-wrinkle remedies and as far as I know, sunscreen is the best preventative measure, so I use LOTS of it!!!

)

FWIW, I was watching a documentary a few weeks back where a man was DX''d with Rickets. It took the doctors nearly TWO months to figure out his condition mainly because it''s so unusual at this day in age. The man was very unhealthy to begin with and the reason he became sick was because he NEVER left the house! I would venture to guess that in just our daily movements, like getting in and out of the car to go into the grocery store, checking the mail, etc., are all enough time, combined, to give us the sun necessary for our Vit. D requirements.

 

[rockzilla]

Tanning is a beauty trend...all the sun exposure needed to make the vitamin D necessary for good health is 15-20 minutes per WEEK. I wear spf 30 under my makeup everyday...even just a 10 minute walk to work at lunch can damange your skin (it might not look tan, but will contribute to wrinkles building up...and potentially skin cancer someday)

The way I think about it is this...I live in southern california, but I am of swedish/polish heritage. Chances are my genes are just not evolved to absorb the levels of sun out here everyday. This is probably true for a lot of people living in the US.

One thing sun exposure can help with is SAD (seasonal affective disorder)...however, you can get the benefits even if you''re covered head to toe in sunscreen

 

[musey]

Date: 6/24/2007 10:51:59 PM
Author: Apsara
The SPF factor indicates how many times your normal exposure you can stay in the sun before burning. For example, if without sunsceen, you can be in the sun 10 minutes before burning, then an SPF of 15 = 15 X 10 min = 150 minutes. Personally, I always find I need to reapply sooner than the SPF would indicate.

Hmmm... I'm pretty sure that the SPF doesn't have to do with the amount of time you're protected. An SPF 30 sunscreen is 30x more effective at preventing sunburn than your bare skin.

"What is the sun protection factor?

The sun protection factor is defined as the ratio of the least amount of ultraviolet energy required to produce a minimal erythema on skin protected by sunscreen to the amount of energy required to produce the same erythema on unprotected skin."

The increased time you can be in the sun is a side effect (to a certain extent), not the definition of how it works. In the end, all sunscreens have a lifespan (that's why you're told to reapply every hour, more frequently if possible). So you can't put on SPF 50 and think "10 minutes before I burn without sunscreen, so 10x50=500... I'm covered all day!"

Sorry, raised by Scottish/Irish parents over here!

I'm a little bit schooled to DEATH on the ins and outs of sunscreen. I live in SPF 50!

 

[musey]

Date: 6/24/2007 11:54:20 PM
Author: rockzilla
Tanning is a beauty trend...all the sun exposure needed to make the vitamin D necessary for good health is 15-20 minutes per WEEK. I wear spf 30 under my makeup everyday...even just a 10 minute walk to work at lunch can damange your skin (it might not look tan, but will contribute to wrinkles building up...and potentially skin cancer someday)

Rockzilla, I was going to comment on that as well! In the beginning of college (when this red-haired freckled lady move to TUCSON, AZ--haha) I was only spending 5-10 minutes in the sun at a time, so it never occurred to me to wear sunscreen. It wasn't like I was spending a day at the beach! After about a month I had sort of a permanent pinkness that I didn't ever have back in the midwest...

5-10 minutes IS enough to get burned. You don't necessarily notice it right away, not until it builds up enough to show through wrinkles, sunburn, or melanoma!!

 

[justjulia]

This is interesting... I read the same about needing like 5 mins a day for vit D production. I was googling and read the best time for this 5 mins is at noon every day. Anyway, I work in a room without windows (the life of a school slp, ack), but I make up for it with the running around getting children pretty often- and our buildings require going in and out to get everywhere- so I figure I''m accumulating my needed minutes.

 

[sumbride]

There are a number of conditions that can benefit from moderate time spent in the sun. Moderate being the key word! I saw a blurb on CNN a couple of years ago that kids these days are experiencing major Vitamin D deficiency because their mothers never let them leave the house without sunscreen. Sunscreen is important, but so is moderation. Of course, these are the same kids with bad teeth because they can only drink bottled water, which doesn''t have any flouride in it! Ah, what have we become???

 

[VegasAngel]

Date: 6/25/2007 2:38:42 AM
Author: musey

Date: 6/24/2007 10:51:59 PM
Author: Apsara
The SPF factor indicates how many times your normal exposure you can stay in the sun before burning. For example, if without sunsceen, you can be in the sun 10 minutes before burning, then an SPF of 15 = 15 X 10 min = 150 minutes. Personally, I always find I need to reapply sooner than the SPF would indicate.

Hmmm... I''m pretty sure that the SPF doesn''t have to do with the amount of time you''re protected. An SPF 30 sunscreen is 30x more effective at preventing sunburn than your bare skin.

''What is the sun protection factor?

The sun protection factor is defined as the ratio of the least amount of ultraviolet energy required to produce a minimal erythema on skin protected by sunscreen to the amount of energy required to produce the same erythema on unprotected skin.''

The increased time you can be in the sun is a side effect (to a certain extent), not the definition of how it works. In the end, all sunscreens have a lifespan (that''s why you''re told to reapply every hour, more frequently if possible). So you can''t put on SPF 50 and think ''10 minutes before I burn without sunscreen, so 10x50=500... I''m covered all day!''

Sorry, raised by Scottish/Irish parents over here!

I''m a little bit schooled to DEATH on the ins and outs of sunscreen. I live in SPF 50!

I''m copying & pasting from my post in family:

The SPF number on a sunscreen label tells you only how long you can stay in the sun without burning. It does not tell you the quality or amount of sun protection you are getting. For example, an SPF 50 sunscreen does not protect you "better" than an SPF 25. An SPF of 25 means that you can stay in the sun approximately nine hours without burning while the SPF 50 allows for about 18 hours in the sun without burning. But how many places in the world have 18 hours of sunlight every day? So the extra protection is actually meaningless. In terms of how much sunlight (Ultra Violet—UV rays) gets through to the skin, both SPF 25 and SPF 50 protect nearly identically. An SPF 50 is not better than an SPF 25. If anything, it misleads lots of people into thinking they are getting stronger protection when all they are getting is unnecessary longer protection.
"Crunching the numbers: an SPF 2 blocks about 50% of UVB rays; an SPF 10 filters out about 85% of UVB rays; an SPF 15 stops about 95%; and an SPF 30 stops about 97%. An SPF that''s higher than 30 does not provide any more UV protection, it just offers more time that you can stay in the sun without burning."

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 6/25/2007 11:37:51 AM
Author: VegasAngel

Date: 6/25/2007 2:38:42 AM
Author: musey

Date: 6/24/2007 10:51:59 PM
Author: Apsara
The SPF factor indicates how many times your normal exposure you can stay in the sun before burning. For example, if without sunsceen, you can be in the sun 10 minutes before burning, then an SPF of 15 = 15 X 10 min = 150 minutes. Personally, I always find I need to reapply sooner than the SPF would indicate.

Hmmm... I''m pretty sure that the SPF doesn''t have to do with the amount of time you''re protected. An SPF 30 sunscreen is 30x more effective at preventing sunburn than your bare skin.

''What is the sun protection factor?

The sun protection factor is defined as the ratio of the least amount of ultraviolet energy required to produce a minimal erythema on skin protected by sunscreen to the amount of energy required to produce the same erythema on unprotected skin.''

The increased time you can be in the sun is a side effect (to a certain extent), not the definition of how it works. In the end, all sunscreens have a lifespan (that''s why you''re told to reapply every hour, more frequently if possible). So you can''t put on SPF 50 and think ''10 minutes before I burn without sunscreen, so 10x50=500... I''m covered all day!''

Sorry, raised by Scottish/Irish parents over here!

I''m a little bit schooled to DEATH on the ins and outs of sunscreen. I live in SPF 50!

I''m copying & pasting from my post in family:

The SPF number on a sunscreen label tells you only how long you can stay in the sun without burning. It does not tell you the quality or amount of sun protection you are getting. For example, an SPF 50 sunscreen does not protect you ''better'' than an SPF 25. An SPF of 25 means that you can stay in the sun approximately nine hours without burning while the SPF 50 allows for about 18 hours in the sun without burning. But how many places in the world have 18 hours of sunlight every day? So the extra protection is actually meaningless. In terms of how much sunlight (Ultra Violet—UV rays) gets through to the skin, both SPF 25 and SPF 50 protect nearly identically. An SPF 50 is not better than an SPF 25. If anything, it misleads lots of people into thinking they are getting stronger protection when all they are getting is unnecessary longer protection.

''Crunching the numbers: an SPF 2 blocks about 50% of UVB rays; an SPF 10 filters out about 85% of UVB rays; an SPF 15 stops about 95%; and an SPF 30 stops about 97%. An SPF that''s higher than 30 does not provide any more UV protection, it just offers more time that you can stay in the sun without burning.''

that is what I thought. This is so confusing. Thanks VA!

 

[mrssalvo]

I agree skippy, it is all confusing. I did decide today to just start reappling every hour at at the pool with the kids instead of every 2 hours. neither of them have burned but do have tans and I worry that being there everyday for a few hours is just too much and yet I don''t think keeping them inside is good either for them or me and my sanity

. I use anything from 30-50 and would reapply every 2 hours regardless b/c they are in the water most of the time.

 

[Nicrez]

Date: 6/24/2007 11:02:22 PM
Author: monarch64
I''m one of those everything-in-moderation people. I think a typical amount of sun exposure, say being outdoors taking a walk, or playing volleyball on the beach, probably doesn''t do THAT much harm. I think a bit of sun is good for you. It helps your attitude, stress levels, etc., and if you don''t get enough Vitamin D in your diet sun exposure is one other way to get it. You just can''t be baking yourself all the time and think botox will cure your leathery skin later in life, lol!

Amen Monarch! I couldn''t have written this post better!

I look better with color, my skin has a healthier glow. If having a healthy glow is unhealthy, then why do we have the sun? I clearly never want to look like a Coach leather bag when I am (older)... but I have seen women shriek at the sight of the sun, and at any age being lumiscent white is not all that healthy when your blue veins are brighter than your skin! Moderate sun, but always protect your skin, even when taking off make-up, moisturizing at night, in the daytime, and keeping your face fresh and clean with minimal non-comedogenic make-up to the clog pores. I can''t fathom tanning booths (for those who do it regularly!) and those spray on tans are just icky in concept to me...real sun, just a bit or nothing at all...

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 6/24/2007 10:17:09 PM
Author: zoebartlett
I''ve heard people say that others look healthier when they have more color. I tend to burn easily and then after a while I get sort of tan. I have fair skin and I need to be careful in the sun. I do like a nice tan in the summer though. I don''t think I''d ever go tanning in a tanning bed though. I''ve never heard about it in the way you''re talking about though. I''ve never heard of the health benefits to tanning but it is interesting.

I''ve heard of the psychological benefits... I think all of these things work together... if you''re happier you tend to work more to maintain good health... but all things in moderation of course!

 

[FireGoddess]

When I take walks or exercise outdoors I make sure I'm covered up and do wear sunscreen. Some sunlight for a few minutes a day is good for you, but that is not an excuse to go outside and lay out! I haven't heard a single dermatologist anywhere advocate sun exposure, period. Why chance it? I have seen people get suspicious moles and have them removed, and even saw a friend's parent die from metastatic melanoma. There are enough things out there that can kill you that you don't have control over...I'm not going to add another to the list.

When we were younger my parents would never let us lay out, we'd have to play UNDER umbrellas at the beach, and I used to whine and pout the whole time. But I'm thanking them now. I have also never gone to a tanning booth, so having been lucky enough to only have 1 or 2 burns my whole life, and not a lot of tanning. I'm going to consider myself lucky and not start now!

I agree a good tan looks FABULOUS...that dark skin looks amazing but you can get it out of a bottle or spray. I just tend to suck it up. It doesn't help that my husband is olive skinned and gets darker without even trying to in the summer....he makes me look practically blue in comparison. LOL.

ETA: Our neighbor used to lay out every day in the summer when I was growing up..she would always say 'il sole fa bene' which means the sun is good for you in Italian...but over the years I saw that woman's skin turn to leather. No thank you!!

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 6/25/2007 11:50:38 AM
Author: mrssalvo
I agree skippy, it is all confusing. I did decide today to just start reappling every hour at at the pool with the kids instead of every 2 hours. neither of them have burned but do have tans and I worry that being there everyday for a few hours is just too much and yet I don''t think keeping them inside is good either for them or me and my sanity

. I use anything from 30-50 and would reapply every 2 hours regardless b/c they are in the water most of the time.

I think that''s all you can do MrsS. Don''t want the poor kids not to go to the pool or be outdoors, but reapplying the sunscreen is key, as you''re doing. And try to keep them out of the sun during the strongest hours of the day (where I lived it was between 10 am and 2 pm).

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 6/25/2007 6:55:57 PM
Author: FireGoddess

Date: 6/25/2007 11:50:38 AM

Author: mrssalvo

I agree skippy, it is all confusing. I did decide today to just start reappling every hour at at the pool with the kids instead of every 2 hours. neither of them have burned but do have tans and I worry that being there everyday for a few hours is just too much and yet I don''t think keeping them inside is good either for them or me and my sanity

. I use anything from 30-50 and would reapply every 2 hours regardless b/c they are in the water most of the time.

I think that''s all you can do MrsS. Don''t want the poor kids not to go to the pool or be outdoors, but reapplying the sunscreen is key, as you''re doing. And try to keep them out of the sun during the strongest hours of the day (where I lived it was between 10 am and 2 pm).

it''s 10-2 here too. We do try to go later in the day but some days that just doesn''t work either. Our pool also has an indoor pool and we started spending at 1 hour inside swimming. my kids love it just as much b/c the indoor pool has 9 ft deepend so they can dive.

My mom LOVES the sun and has american indian in her and is always dark. she never used sunscreen on me when I was a kid and I used to lifegaurd all summer long with no protection when I was in my teens and 20''s (i was an aquatics director for a Y so still outside all the time). I never burn so just didn''t really give it much thought until recent years and having my own kids. Now I wear protection year round on my face especially. All I can do is go with what I now know. Can''t go back and make up for all those years with no sun protection

 

[Apsara]

Holy Toledo! I think I'll just stay in the shade!

ETA: I don't "tan" but I love to swim--it's amazing the color I do get just from swimming for spurts, with SPF 30.

 

[KimberlyH]

I do not tan, for my health or for beauty! I do spend time in the sun because I find it invigorating, but I am an Irish girl that turns as red as my sister''s hair when I spend any amount of time in the sun unprotected.

Ditto what monnie said, moderation, moderation, moderation (oh, and sunscreen for me, please!).