If i am going on a cruise, should i go tanning to keep from getting burned??

[Johanna]

I will be going on a 7 night cruise in the beginning of May and I am very fair skinned. Should i go tanning to get a base so i dont fry? I am also concerned about skin cancer. Will going tanning for a few weeks give me skin cancer??:confused:
thanks

[j.griff]

I wouldn't go tanning, especially if you are referring to tanning beds/booths.
I would just get some really good sunscreen and be sure to apply it more than once each day, get a wide brimmed hat, maybe some of the clothing that has an SPF too.

[Mom2legomaniacs]

Don't do it! Slather on the sunscreen all the time. (of course, I just had a skin cancer spot removed a few hours ago, so that is naturally going to be my response) I don't think it is worth it. I am very fair and had some burns as a kid and younger adult. Wishing I had worn more sunscreen.

[Ria]

My goodness, no! Just get some very strong sunscreen and use it liberally while on the cruise. Don't forget to put it on the tops of your feet if you are barefoot or in sandals (ask me how I know, lol!). And bring a sunhat. You'll be just fine.

Ria

[Mom2legomaniacs]

Yeah and don't forget your ears and your scalp. Not pleasant either!

[abbeyej]

Agreeing with everyone else. Avoid tanning booths like the plague, use good sunblock, re-apply it frequently... Spend the money you were considering spending on a tanning place on a flattering wide-brimmed hat.

[Tracey in TX]

Sole dissenter...

I would absolutely tan before a week long cruise if you want to be exposed to the sun on the cruise. Start small, baby steps (few minutes at a time) to build a color base and then enjoy your cruise.

Nothing stinks quite like being burned to a crisp on vacation. I also wouldn't go with expectations of returning pale. To me it defeats the purpose and pleasure of being in the sun :cool:

[stephanie]

I will be going on a 7 night cruise in the beginning of May and I am very fair skinned. Should i go tanning to get a base so i dont fry? I am also concerned about skin cancer. Will going tanning for a few weeks give me skin cancer??:confused:
thanks

I must admit, I've used the tanning beds many a times in my life fors the same reason- to get a base tan so I wouldn't burn out in the sun. However, things changed for me when I had a squamous cell carcinoma removed from my scalp 6 years ago. Yes, use sun-screen. However, if you're like me then you would like to have some color to your skin. I always say brown fat is prettier than white fat! LOL! That's really just a joke, but I think a tan does look nice. We have a local tanning salon that offers a spray-mist tan that looks great, is immediate, but doesn't have all the side-effects of being in the sun. Down here it's called Mystic tan. Last year we went to Cancun so I went and did the mystic tan and got a nice color to my skin. Once I got to Cancun I just slopped the sunblock on because remember that you really don't have a tan! It worked like a charm and I looked like a regular tanned-tourist! That's just an option for you. The mystic tan can be a little costly, but worth it to me,and you don't have to do many to have a beautiful tan. If you can't do the spray tan then I would just do sunblock. It really isn't worth the risk and wrinkles! Hope that helps you.

[Tutor]

I will be going on a 7 night cruise in the beginning of May and I am very fair skinned. Should i go tanning to get a base so i dont fry? I am also concerned about skin cancer. Will going tanning for a few weeks give me skin cancer??:confused:
thanks

Ack! No. I used to work for a dermatologist, and he used to remind people that although sun burn was a high risk factor for skin cancer, that sun damage is also occurring when you tan. The average hanging-out-outside-working-or-dong-some-other-activity tan isn't a big concern (assuming you slathered on sunblock and are tanning very, very slowly), but the sun-worshiper tan is just asking for trouble.

[Stacia]

You might want to look into getting a few pieces of sunblocking clothing -- stuff like bathing suit coverups & such. Sometimes that's easier than constantly slathering on sunscreen (which I hate doing, even though I'm fair-skinned).

[Stacia]

Oh, and don't forget chapstick w/ sunblock. W/ the ocean water & the breezes (not to mention the glare of the sun reflecting off the water), your lips will thank you.

[Basketmaker Amy]

Get a "spray on" tan. I got one before I went on a cruise...it wasn't "orangey" like some of them...so you might want to get some references. You may want to use Jergens or some other brand of self-tanning lotions. The Jergens one doesn't smell as funny as some and is also a lotion. It doesn't look "orangey", but does require quite a few coats to get a "glow."

Have fun on the cruise!

[Johanna]

Wow, ladies....you have been so helpful. I didnt even think about the mystic tan. How long will it last??
Yeah, the whole skin cancer thing scares me. But, I know that it would be nice to not be a white ghost in the carribean:(
So, if i got this mystic tan, will it be streaky??
Will it look natural??
Can you explain how it is put on....is it like a shower mist? Does it get on your clothes? face?
thanks

[Karen sn]

No longer solo my friend.
I am a sun worshiper. I don't let myself burn and will wear a straw cowgirl hat, but I LOVE how the sun makes me feel physically and metally. I love to get hot and then jump in the salty Atlantic. I love how GOOD my soul feels after the sun shining on my face.

I believe the sun cures more cancer than it causes - unless you are redhaired, pale skinned, and prone to burn.
I believe in vitamin D.
I believe the chemicals in most sunscreens will cause cancer.

Go to the tanning booth, make sure it has been cleaned properly.
Start slow - work your way up.
Do bring a hat that ties to your head on this vacation.

[Basketmaker Amy]

I think I paid $25 at a tanning place and a girl sprayed it on. (You can wear an old bathing suit or underwear...or all natural!). I have heard of some places where you go in a room (with your underwear on!) and the machine sprays it on you. (My parents did it this way for the cruise. I think my "personal" spray tan looked better. They went two times before the cruise, I only went once and mine was just as dark or darker.) They did my face as well. It wasn't SUPER dark, just a nice glow! Mine wasn't streaky or "orangey" looking.

My advice would ask around your area and see what places people recommend.

Have fun!

[Basketmaker Amy]

Oh, I forgot to say, I think I went about 3 days before the cruise. They said it would take a couple of days to really "set".

[Johanna]

Ok, ladies....I think that i am going to go with the spray on tan! I am feeling the most at ease with this option. Thanks for all the tips, you have been really helpful!

[abbeyej]

Ok, ladies....I think that i am going to go with the spray on tan! I am feeling the most at ease with this option. Thanks for all the tips, you have been really helpful!

I guess I'm just confused. Your original question was about "Should i go tanning to get a base so i dont fry?" Obviously the spray-on tan will *not* protect you from burning in any way. If you're naturally pale, you must still take exactly the same precautions recommended above if you don't want "to fry". (Though I certainly agree that a spray-on stain is less dangerous than getting an "actual" tan from a tanning booth.)

Was your question really about aesthetics or about sunburn protection?

[Tammy]

You will be busy with other things.....

Tammy