I use to tan, but haven't for the past 2 years. I have ghostly skin and my very dark hair brings out that feature even more. I always feel more comfortable and confident with myself if I tan... But its an extra monthly cost and well its not the best for me. I want to learn to be more comfortable with my very pale skin.... but after all these years I still feel less confident with pale skin.
Do you tan?
cantaloupe / 6146 posts
I did for the wedding. I think I should start doing it 2 times or so every winter-- it boosts my mood (like light therapy)!
I know it's "bad for you" but not as bad as depression can be for you, so to me it's worth it.
pear / 1764 posts
I used to tan sometimes but I was never a huge tanner. I would go through fazes where I'd buy a tanning package but it wasn't something I did all the time. I haven't been in a tanning bed now in probably 1.5 years...since before I was pregnant. I also have fair skin & prefer to have a bit of color 
Right now I've just been using the slow build tanning creams but it isn't the same for me.
@pastemoo: I LOVE going tanning in the winter for that very reason! It really does boost your mood. Have you tried a day-light or something similar? My MIL bought one for us for Christmas since we leave way up north & neither of us tan now. It's pretty nice, we usually turn it on once a day for about 20-30 minutes while we are watching t.v.
cantaloupe / 6146 posts
@sulli301: I have not. But a couple tanning sessions is pretty cheap. They had a light at the counseling center when I was in school and didn't notice a difference. Of course I didn't go regularly.
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts
I don't tan. I have fair skin and I don't get darker tanning. My skin tone has always been what I'm most self conscious about because everyone wants to be dark and being pale is considered unattractive where I'm from.
cantaloupe / 6791 posts
I did for the past 2 years or so (especially for my wedding). But a few months ago I went to the dermatologist and had to have a mole removed (not a fun experience for someone who hateees needles!). I have a family history of skin cancer and my dr said I was "too tan for my skin tone/coloring." I have green eyes and blond hair. This winter I haven't been to the tanning bed at all and I'm trying to get used to my pale skin.
However, in the summer, I tan really easily in the sunlight. I live at the beach, so I know I will be outside a lot! I'm just going to use 30 spf and if I still get tan, then I guess it will be alright. I can't deal with being too pale in the summer, especially where I'm from!
blogger / honeydew / 7081 posts
I only go tanning when we're about to go away on vacation. I'm SO pale, and I burn really quickly, so if I have a bit of a base tan, I can enjoy my vacation more.
I find it boosts my mood like crazy though, so I'm considering going once a month or so. When it gets dark at 4:45pm, the sun is a rare commodity.
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
I used to swim a ton when I was younger and was super super dark. I've stayed out of the sun for the past decade or so (skin cancer is scary!) so I've lightened up a lot. I think I'm darker than most asians though.
pomegranate / 3503 posts
I have naturally pale skin. It takes a while for me to build up a tan. Right before I got pregnant the first time, I was playing tennis at least 3 times a week and got pretty tanned. Haven't gotten any color since then.
honeydew / 7968 posts
i used to tan very easily, but lately, i don't really hang out in the sun anymore or try to cover up so my face doesn't get tanned. too many dark spots.
persimmon / 1087 posts
I used to tan before I got pregnant. I miss it! I look and feel better when I have a bit of color.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I do in the summer, but with the sun, not tanning beds. I don't get super dark because I don't have the time to devote to it, but I do agree that I feel better with a bit of color, the vitamin D really boosts my mood.
When I was on BCP, I was super sensitive to the sun, so I basically stayed out of the sun completely for 10 years. Before that I was a lifeguard at a pool, so I was in the sun during the summer. I actually have an appt at the end of this month to get my skin checked out.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
I used to tan on/off senior yr of hs and throughout college. I go once or twice before tropical vacations... I stopped going end of 2011 as we started our TTC journey.
hostess / eggplant / 11068 posts
I never went tanning - my Asian skin had a naturally darker tone to it and I avoided the sun like the plague!
hostess / watermelon / 14932 posts
nope. I don't mind being pale - I want to have nice skin when I'm older! a family member that always stays out of the sun (or uses lots of SPF) has snow white skin in her mid 40s.
GOLD / wonderful grape / 20289 posts
I never did. I used to try... but I just burn. I also have pale skin with very dark hair. My mom used to say I looked like Snow White 
There's plenty of women who have pale skin and are beautiful!
eggplant / 11824 posts
I never tan. I'm very, very, very pale and ok with that. I would rather look younger longer than look tanner now.
nectarine / 2797 posts
Never. Having one of your best friends diagnosed with melanoma at age 28 will put the fear of the sun or tanning beds into you. I'm a SPF 50 girl all the time and rock my pasty skin.
persimmon / 1465 posts
I think this is another one of those cultural things. I don't know anyone who has used a tanning bed. Ever. I mean we have them here, they just aren't really popular. There is also talk of having commercial ones banned.
Thing is though, they are really, really bad for you. Like really bad. We have had major education programs in Australia about sun safety as we have a high rate of melanoma. As bad as sun tanning is it's got nothing on sunbeds.
Sorry to be Debbie Downer but I know people who have had melanoma and it's not good. The survival rate for people who have had melanoma, recovered, then get a secondary cancer a few years later is low. Embrace the pale! Slip, slop, slap! ( slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat - it's the sun safety tagline here.
pomegranate / 3706 posts
No--way too dangerous. I'm super fair and sure, people have made rude comments, and sometimes I feel self-conscious, but I've had too many people close to me have (and die) from skin cancer and it's just not worth it to me. If I really want some color, I use Clarins tanning gel and it looks great!
pineapple / 12526 posts
No way. I'm another one who has known someone with melanoma from tanning.
Plus, I prefer being pale. I have good skin and I am quick to tan and don't burn but I am the one on the beach under an umbrella with a layer of super SPF sunscreen. lol. I love my pale skin and dark hair.
pear / 1554 posts
No...I've never tanned on a tanning bed. Never wanted to. Plus I always wear sunscreen when I'm outside.
cantaloupe / 6791 posts
@cupcakemama: I agree. DH's grandmother had melanoma in 2010 and part of her ear was removed. Everything was (supposedly) fine until exactly a year later when the doctors discovered her cancer had spread to her brain and lungs. She passed away 1 month later. This was 2 weeks before our wedding and I was really close to her. That's why I'll never go in another tanning bed again.
pomegranate / 3706 posts
@lilteacherbee: I'm so sorry 
My uncle's spread to his brain, too. He passed away about 6 months after we found out. Skin cancer (and all cancer) is awful, nasty stuff.
pear / 1965 posts
I use to. My Best friend has skin cancer though, and right after she got it, it made me look at if it was really worth it. I dont anymore. When I feel the need to be more tan due to a wedding or trip or something I get the spray tan at the salon.
GOLD / eggplant / 11517 posts
I used to in high school/college but don't anymore. Sometimes I will use a lotion tanner or spray tan.
But now I'm vitamin D deficient since I've been so far away from the sun lately.
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