Question for those who tan in tanning beds (or those with scars)

Set alerts

Updates

Breas

I've been reading a bunch of information on line and getting mixed messages so I wanted to hear from those who have experience in tanning beds. I had tanned a long time ago, but I didn't really have the scars I do now so my experience isn't really helpful (to me).

I'm wondering, if you tan and had scars, did they darken? Did they stand out more? Did they camouflage? What type of scar(s) did you have? Where were they located (if you don't mind telling me)?

The last thing I'd want is my scars to stand out more. I have a few on my back, and a couple on my legs.

I was trying to find information online for different vitamin creams that could help reduce the appearance of scars, but I'm just overwhelmed with advertisements.

I did look into getting laser removal for the scars I have, but the guy that I had the consultation with said that it wouldn't be helpful for me and that I should just see a dermatologist. I did this, and the cream she gave me did not work.

The scars are not outrageous, but it definitely puts a damper on my self-confidence. I'm not looking for some miracle to make them disappear, but maybe something that could fade their appearance... even just a little bit!

01/31/2012

All promotions

Ms. Spice

your best bet is to buy vitamin E liquid pills, break them open, and apply them once a day. It's a really damned slow process, but it will lighten them significantly after a few months.

I used to tan religiously for a while, and I noticed that my scar on my arm actually blended in more after I started to tan. However! It was a superficial scar (meaning that it wasn't at all deep), so that might be why. If you have deeper scars, tanning will not be your friend.

I hoped this helped a little and god luck!

01/31/2012

Breas

Quote:

Originally posted by Ms. Spice

I was just reading about the vitamin E, and I guess in one study that was conducted, the areas where it was applied actually got worse? The other studies mentioned concluded it had no effect.

I'm having a hell of a time trying to find a straight answer when I search. It seems as though for every good comment, there is a bad one. Darnitall!

Did you use the vitamin E pills? I think I may give it a try.

01/31/2012

Tori Rebel

I'm curious about this too...I have scarring on my cleavage from my sternum piercing and while I would personally never regularly tan, I do it about twice per year in January and February just to look a little less than a corpse for about 2 minutes at a time. This is the first winter I've had the scar and I'm not sure how the scar will handle the slight increase in color.

01/31/2012

Jul!a

Quote:

Originally posted by Tori Rebel

The scars from my surface piercings got a little darker the first summer I picked up a tan after taking them out, but by the summer after that there weren't any problems really. My sternum did have a nasty scar at first, but it's been about 4 years now I think since I took it out and all you can see are the holes from the dermal punch. The ones that I had done on my stomach you can only see scarring from where they started getting very angry and rejecting before I took them out, but that's about it and I took them out at the same time as my sternum bar. I think if you're only changing a shade or two, it won't be a problem.

I have one scar on my arm that doesn't change color and just stays white so it becomes more obvious when I get a tan from being outside, but other than some stretch marks on my thighs there isn't much else for me to try and tan as far as scars go. Although for what it's worth, the "natural" ones like stretch marks seem to blend in the best when I get color and the "unnatural" ones that were caused by external influences seem to stand out the most. At least for me anyway. They don't always stand out a lot, but moreso than my stretch marks usually.

01/31/2012

Coralbell

Scars don't tan, so if you tan the rest of your skin the pale scars will stand out more. If you use a sunless tanner it can help disguise scars though.

I don't have any major scars, but I do scar really easily so I have a lot of small ones from scraping my knees, every cut I've ever gotten, cat scratches, etc. I also have stretch marks on my hips. In the summer I got very burnt, which then turned into a dark tan, and my stretch marks stood out really badly. I ended up using some tanner on top to help them blend in more, so my hips wouldn't be brown with white stripes.

01/31/2012

EnChAnTiNg

First off, if you are looking to lighten the scars, use Prosil by Biodermis. Very easy to apply.

I use to tan very fequently. After about 5 years of tanning once a week, I was diagnosed with skin cancer on the side of my ribs. It was successfully removed, but left a very nasty scar. I do not go to tanning beds anymore, but if I accidently get a bit burnt in the sun, the scar does not tan, and the burn actually aggrevates it some more.

Just a word about tanning beds though (and yes we have all heard it before)... I have had 6 different spots on my body that have been diagnosed with skin cancer. All have been removed successfully becasue I go to the dermatologist every 6 months, and they are caught very early. If you are going to tan, make sure you see a dermatologist regularly, and if you don't like the look of scars, then maybe just buy a fake bronzer from the store. The scars that I have are very noticeable, and the only thing that has been diminishing them is the Prosil, which I apply 3 times a day.

01/31/2012

Ms. Spice

Quote:

Originally posted by Breas

Yes, I did! There are also scar creams that you can buy over the counter. Your best bet is to ask the pharmacist. I'll see what I can else I can find for you. I used one way back when, and it helped a scar that I got from surgery as a child.

01/31/2012

Total posts: 8 Unique posters: 6

Make a post