just recently on the news they've been talking to a girl who visited a solarium and had many treatments. The poor girl is now dying from a melanoma and warning people about their usage. It certainly makes you think that getting a tan isn't all that its cracked up to be and definitely not worth the risk of cancer

I was a sun goddess! As a 70s teen, you couldn't ever have a tan not deep enough. I got married and had two kids. I joined a private swim club. I was there soaking up the sun while my kids had swim lessons.

Something about turning 40 makes you fear the sun! I'm officially old and the sun is going to make me even older. Ouch! I find myself not exactly practicing what I preach to my 16 year old daughter who is embarrassed to be so 'white'. I tell her 'white is good!' so she doesn't end up with aging skin when she gets older.

My daughter wants to go to a tanning bed. My answer is forget that idea kid! You do not pay for radiation that causes skin cancer. If you don't like that idea, you definitely will not like thinking you need plastic surgery at 35 over getting a tan.

good on you Cinnamon for not letting her go to tanning salons. right now in Aust. the government is changing (well standardising) the regulations regarding tanning beds and I think its about time!! if my boys decide that they want to 'get a tan' I've decided I am going to make them research it on the net and find some gruesome site for them to check out just to make sure they decide against going

I'm dealing with 'The New Generation' of kids. Everything is supposed to be so easy! I didn't grow up with AC or a color TV. My kids grew up with climate control, thinking 'outside' is too hot, too cold with internet and computer games with outstanding graphics. Why go outside?

My daughter is outraged that she does not have my permission needed or cash I will not pay for tanning beds to nuke her. Last I noticed, the sun is out every day. Why can't she just enjoy a summer day in the sun?

I will not criticize anyone who goes to a tanning bed. I personally feel like it's paying for skin cancer and premature skin aging. I like the sun and spent too much time there. I may pay for that decision with my life, skin cancer.

I was a sun goddess when I was younger too and about 40 I came to the same conclusion. Your daughter is at an age when she thinks nothing will ever happen bad.

I know teenagers are like that... i am one

But i've learned it is best to listen to grown-ups when they tell you that something is bad...

Good on you & thank you LaLa I am so glad that there are younger people out there who do listen

I forgot to mention the other day that I am not totally against tanning beds if they are used correctly for medical reasons ONLY (like in my case for psoriasis but I have an Ultra Violet Narrow Band unit - with a medical prescription which is different again to a tanning bed)
If people want a tan I think they should go outside in moderation and use a tan in a bottle for the 'quick' solution. There are some fake tans out there that look so real!

I am not totally against them either just got to go easy

I don't like tanning beds. The fact is, your neck and the underside of your arms are not anything resembling natural tan. I used to put sunblock on my upper legs for my lower legs to catch up.

Why pay for a tanning bed to nuke you? It really does look fake. Your skin will look like an old leather shoe and so do you after the grand age of 35. I fail to understand why anyone will pay for skin cancer and premature aging. White skin is pretty at all ages.

The sun really does shine, every single day. Try going outside and enjoying the day or is that too difficult? My 16 year old daughter thinks so. She seems to think the outdoors should be climate control, like our home. Are you serious?

lol Cinnamon I have to laugh at your daughter thinking the outdoors to be climate controlled wouldn't that be great if we could do that. We could make it rain on demand and be sunny a few minutes later.

You're so right about the premature aging who wants that but a little bit of sunlight for us each day is a good thing.