IA Joe

To tan or not tan prior to your visit is certainly your choice by any method you deem more appropriate or feasible. My only word of caution is not to assume some leeway in using a quality SPF product regularly because you have 'prepped' your skin prior to the visit. Caribbean sun can be brutal and finds any unprotected part of your body.

"My question was more related to whether or not that would be worth it from the perspective to making me less susceptible to sunburn, not would there be a long term health impact."

The answer to this question is "no". You will still need to wear a strong sunscreen everyday or you will burn regardless of pre-tanning.

Every time we go to STJ we jokingly refer to the "Reddest Guy on the Beach Award"...ineveitably we see at least one man who looks like a red lobster wandering around on the beach, lol.

FWIW...

Usually I tan for about a month ahead of time. I was recently asked by my doctor if I tanned before I went to the islands and told him I did. Much to my surprise, he didn't trash tanning booths like alot of people do, but he did mention that even a good tan offered only the same protection as applying SPF 4, i.e. not very much.

WW

>>>My question was more related to whether or not that would be worth it from the perspective to making me less susceptible to sunburn, not would there be a long term health impact.

In my experience, getting a base tan goes a long way toward not getting burnt once you're down there. That's for my skin type anyway. I have found that no matter how much SPF I use, I will burn without a base tan. And getting burnt is worse for my skin than tanning in a bed.

That said, if you've never been in a tanning bed before, I wanted to wish you a word of warning. The first time I went, the overly-tanned girl at the front desk told me that it was fine to go for 5 minutes the first time, 10 minutes the second time, and 15 minutes the third time. She was WRONG! I got burnt badly.

Start out at like 3 minutes, then go up to 6, then 9, then 12, then 15 (and I'd repeat 6 and 9 at least a couple times before adding on more time). These are approximate numbers, but the point is to slowly build up your exposure so you don't get burnt. And don't go two days in a row either...give yourself at least a day off (or more) in between sessions.

I also wear chapstick with a 30 SPF in it, as tanning dries out my lips.

Oh, dear Lord

I forgot the lips part. We were in Mexico last year and I did the base tan at the tanners. We put on 15 SPF the first day we were there there and applied it several times so we would not burn up. We had lunch first and also had a few cocktails. We were out for about 4 hours walking the property and sitting by the water. However I must have wiped all of the SPF off my lips when we ate and with the drinks, because my whole body was fine but I had the biggest blisters on my lips!!!!!!!!! It was awful. They swelled up a little but they felt like I had visited Dr. 90210 and asked for an Angelina Jolie make over. Not only were they unsightly but they hurt like the dickens. Snorkeling in the salt water was never so painful. It was worse than the jellyfish stings.

So I learned my lesson. Make sure you apply SPF of some kind to your lips. They are very important part of your body so don't forget them.

I used to tan before Caribbean trips (in my 20s). Now, it just isn't that important.

I don't tan prior to. I lather on the SPF50 spray (BananaBoat) and clear zinc on my face and lips. Good lord- the lips. I can totally relate to Oceanaddict about the lips. If I am not extra careful each day, my lips will blister like crazy and ruin my trip.

I enjoy my trip soooo much more if I lather on SPF 50, take care to enjoy the shade and keep zincon lips, nose and cheeks.

I used to be a "baby oil and iodine" girl. I have the ugly sun splotches to prove it - and I'm not yet 40. I count myself lucky to not yet have skin cancer.

I don't like the sun anymore. I've watched and observed - the prettiest girls protect themselves!!

WE HAVE BEEN TO ST THOMAS TWICE AND ARE GOING AGAIN THIS AUGUST. WE HAVE BEEN TO ALL THE EASTERN CARRIBEAN ISLANDS, BUT ST THOMAS IS OUR FAVORITE. I ALWAYS PRETAN IN A TANNING BED. YOU WERE SPEAKING OF "TANTOWELS" I HAVE NOT HEARD OF THESE. WHAT ARE THEY AND WHERE DO I GET THEM? THANKS FOR ANY INFORMATION.

Blue,
I just had the first laser treatment to get rid of ugly sunspots on my face. It takes 3 to get the best results but I am thrilled after 1. I had one the size of a quarter on my cheek and it is barely visible. Can't wait to see my face after 3. So. ladies & gents slather up or better yet zinc up (the clear stuff is great) or you will have lovely brown spots later...of course that is better than cancer! Not great choices.Lecture over.

I feel I MUST speak up on this-
The "burnt" smell you smell is caused from people "not "wearing a tanning lotion in the bed. It is bacteria from your skin, not your skin burning. It is NOT a best practice to go into a tanning bed without a tanning lotion on. Lotion not only helps you get a better tan it protects your skin. Unlike several others I feel tanning "safety" in a tanning bed is good for you. By safety I mean use a lotion during your tan and a good moisturiser after you tan. I feel tanning before you go to the beach is a very smart idea! You should start a month or 2 in advance, tan slowly and use a lotion! You will still need sun block, but at least you will look nice and be able to set in the sun without looking like a red tomato. Hope you have a great trip.

Seems the onjly folks posting here who think tanning beds are a good idea are those people who use them. Here's what the FDA thinks about the matter:

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/consumer/tanning.html

BOBBIE: Re: TanTowels self-tanner. These are individual self tanning towelettes. You can get them at their website ( http://www.tantowel.com/); HSN, drugstore.com, Sephora and probably a bunch of other places. I like them because they do not streak and they dry extremely quickly. If you have ever used self-tanners you know all about how some rub off on light clothes or come off in the pool - these do not. I use these all summer. They are a slow build so it's really tough to make a mistake and have your tan look fake.

Good reminder about the lips. I'd like to add putting sunblock on the ears and also on the scalp if you are thinning or even have a part. I love the sunblock sprays for this and also for sandy feet - nothing yuckier than trying to rub lotion on sandy feet - lol.

As for the tanning beds - to each their own. Everyone has their own experiences and priorities. Personally, I think that it's better for me to get a very controlled base and avoid the burn and I don't think that I could totally avoid the burn without the base, unless I stayed home. If I could get that controlled base out in the yard before I go, I would, but that's not possible here - it would be more like a snow-tan. But, that's just me. I know, I know: skin cancer (well, maybe, -- there are other contributing factors and that's an individual thing). ...and rum can cause premature skin and organ aging and maybe give you cirrhosis, too. Funny, I can't remember posts warning about this but maybe I missed 'em. Don't want to start that discussion.

So, who's bringing down frozen food???? (just a little board humor to lighten the mood...)

I always tan before our beach trips. I love the sun! I had a great tan before we went to STT. I thought I could be in the sun all day! Wrong. I found myself looking for shade and applying sunscreen every thirty mins. The sun felt like acid on my skin. I have never experienced sun like this. I usually wore a hat to keep my head from frying and my face too. I am from the Midwest and it is hard to get a great tan here unless it is the middle of the summer. I say do what you want, but I'd be worried if I went down looking like "Snow White." It could be painful. Good Luck!

The site on fda.gov was from 10 years ago!!! (Date is on bottom of page)
There have been MANY updates and improvements on tanning beds and lotions since that was posted. By tanning in a bed you can control how much UVA and UVB rays you get, unlike the sun. The sun is great, but it is safer to get a base tan then not. I agree with Margyz to each their own. It's just wrong for people to pass out old, outdated information and post sites that are from 10 years ago! Here are some sites that will give you up to date information on tanning.
www.tanningtruth.com
www.smarttan.com
Read and make your own choice either way enjoy your vacation!

Here's some more recent info. Doesn't look like professional opinion has changed greatly:

http://www.aad.org/public/Publications/pamphlets/DarkerSideTanning.htm

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2003/603_tan.html

http://www.skincancer.org/artificial/index.php

It also seems like the websites that you provided represent people who profit from tanning.

Let's face it..no pun intended..anykind of tanning whether it be in tanning beds or on a beach is not good for anybody. A tan definetly makes you look better, but in the long run, your face will definetly show it.

I'll stick to SPT 30 or SPT15 when i'm on the beach. It's more important to me to avoid cancer at this age then to have a really bad burn.

Hi IA Joe,

You are right...there are many intelligent, opinionated people using this board. It is great!

I acknowledge: tanning/too much sun is not healthy -- we all know that and need to make choices accordingly.

My opinion/experience: I have fair skin, freckles, strawberry blond -- get miserably burnt from small amounts of sun exposure. Pre-tanning in tanning beds helps me not to ruin my vacation with painful burns as it is impossible for me to stay completely covered for 8 - 9 days in the Caribbean.

So YES it is helpful relative to your specific question. But it doesn't seem to be the same as real sun -- the same amount of 'color' from a tanning bed doesn't protect me from burning the same way a real-sun base tan does, so still be a little more careful than if you'd been in the hot Iowa sun all summer already.

I also like Panama Jack Surf N Sport SPF 75 for my forehead/hairline, nose, and shoulders on days that I'm on a boat in the full sun for example.

Neutrogena has a cooling spray sun block (spf 35, I think) that is also handy -- easy to spray on shoulders and arms when you know you're getting a little pink. You don't have to get your hands messy. It's so inconvenient to have slimy hands when you're on the top deck of a ferry, etc. It sprays a nice, fine mist and doesn't smell too bad.

Have a super trip! 🙂

We aren't tanning because we just want to look like ourselves. I am more pale than FI but I have always been. Plus I don't want the skin damage.