Skin Problem

[Ohemgee]

How about tanning beds and cancer? same/better/worse than being out in the sun?

Tanning beds have more UVA than UVB, which leads to cancer more often than the sun (which has more UVB). Both produce vitamin D (great for skin, calcium absorption etc), but both suck in excess. Cue: Guido pic

[Cyn]

How about tanning beds and cancer? same/better/worse than being out in the sun?

Same for the most part. Both contain UV rays, basically regardless of the source it still damages your skin and causes premature skin aging.

It's a shame really, tan does look better, but even tanning in "moderation" is damaging your skin cells.

[Bweigelt]

How about tanning beds and cancer? same/better/worse than being out in the sun?

It's about the same. But take into account that just doing 5 minutes every two to three days or so, is not a lot. If someone is actually worried about that little exposure they should probably just avoid going outside all together.

[Reapz]

Guess I will try and push the Rosacea question next time I visit my GP when my Acnamino runs out

[BerenTebogo]

Honestly, I'd rather be happy, healthy looking, and good looking into my 40's than worry about skin cancer when I'm 60 (healthy tan, not leather-look)

It's like that south park song about smoking, if it gives me cancer when I'm 80 I don't care, who the hell wants to be 90 anyways.

Edit: On topic I guess, I have kinda crappy acne when I'm really pale / winter, keeping tan makes a world of difference, for more than any expensive medications.

[miokomioko]

19? I'm 26 and have yet to find anything that works well enough. Growing facial hair is the best option for me at the moment.

[dritero]

www.acne.org

A much better forum to discuss anything related to acne.

[isladar]

Change your diet as well.

Your skin is a giant reflection of what's going on INSIDE of your body. External medication (lotions, astringents, etc.) are treating the symptom and not the problem.

Go to someone who can administer a blood test to find out what food allergies you have. The most common are diary products and wheat, diary more likely to produce a skin reaction.

Keep in mind, even if you say "Oh I don't really eat a lot of [allergen]", it takes less than a teaspoon full of whatever it you're sensitive to to continue the allergic reaction.

[Neosutra]

1. Diet

2. Excercise

3. Healthy Sun (NOT overdoing it, but there is a mix between 2 hours of tanning bed a day and being condemned to your mother's basement for your entire life away from the sun).

4. Proactive: Simply the best full acne treatment on the market. Fast, considerable results when everything else fails.

[Nystul]

There are a lot of things that can lead to acne. Definitely see your doc and get a referral to a dermatologist, who can probably help. I had some stuff that broke out on my chest a while back, and nothing would make it go away. I thought it was just acne, all the body washes etc wouldn't do anything for it. Turns out, after a visit with a dermatologist, that it was a bacterial infection and some antibiotic cream over a few weeks cleaned it right up.

So yea, go see a specialist, it's worth the trouble.

[Ohemgee]

Change your diet as well.

Your skin is a giant reflection of what's going on INSIDE of your body. External medication (lotions, astringents, etc.) are treating the symptom and not the problem.

Go to someone who can administer a blood test to find out what food allergies you have. The most common are diary products and wheat, diary more likely to produce a skin reaction.

Keep in mind, even if you say "Oh I don't really eat a lot of [allergen]", it takes less than a teaspoon full of whatever it you're sensitive to to continue the allergic reaction.

Clinical Microscopist for a live blood analysis. My brother is certified microscopist

[Cheerios]

You could always give yourself an enema

[miokomioko]

My most effective practice is frequently washing bedsheets (pillowcases more specifically) and washing hands very often.

[Angelsin]

1. Diet

2. Excercise

3. Healthy Sun (NOT overdoing it, but there is a mix between 2 hours of tanning bed a day and being condemned to your mother's basement for your entire life away from the sun).

4. Proactive: Simply the best full acne treatment on the market. Fast, considerable results when everything else fails.

Didn't know that excercise leads to healthier skin (as in acme fighting). Interesting.

I've tried Proactive for 2 months. It did nothing for my skin. Still had regular break outs which those goddamn huge ones. I'm trying Murad out and my skin is a lot softer and my acme is in much better condition.

[Leeto]

some of the people complaining of red spots on arms/back/neck sound like they have tinea versicolor. It's a fungus, and it fucking sucks. I used selsun blue for about 2 weeks, but if you skip even 1 day it completely reverses anything you did before, have to be really proactive with it

[Lee]

I don't have a lot of acne, but I have like 1 or 2 huge volcanic ones at a time usually.

[Lordwafik]

I don't have a lot of acne, but I have like 1 or 2 huge volcanic ones at a time usually.

Me too, I haven't gotten anything serious in years , most of the time just one near the elbow or on my thigh (wtf) but this morning I wake up and one is on my cheek near my nose ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

[Exoduso]

I only have the occasional pimple here and there (and even those are generally very small and pass within 2-3 days if I don't mess with it..), otherwise i'm perfectly clear. It's still frustrating though, having something coming out every couple of days is lame.

[TacoTaru]

How about tanning beds and cancer? same/better/worse than being out in the sun?

I had a physics teacher who did the math and showed the class exactly how much shittier tanning beds were for you than regular tanning. The comparison of UV exposure of tanning by natural sunlight and tanning beds are incredibly different. I'd avoid tanning via tanning beds unless it's a final solution kind of deal; that is unless you don't care about possible skin damage then go for it.

[Maguspk]

What's with the people saying getting a tan will ruin your skin and make you look old? I know plenty of women, specifically my mom and lots of her friends who tanned daily when they were younger (in their twenties) and look great even at 49-50ish now. Looking old and having a tan do not go hand in hand and just because someone tans and then ages quickly doesn't mean the tan caused it. Maybe tanning beds or being a ginger kid factor into this, but if you're normal or even slightly ethnic tanning isn't a big deal. The hype is mostly drawn up for pale pasties.

As far as skin goes, I used to have acne on my cheeks in like middle school and everyday I'd scratch the shit and just pop them all and it totally scarred my face. Now I'm 19 and the scars are almost gone, but still noticeable close up if you're looking for em. Advice is to not mess with the shit and pop and all that stuff. See a professional, don't ask BG lol. Looking at the varied answers I'd be willing to bet the solution varies from person to person and trying what worked for someone else may not necessarily work for you. Good luck.