Sunbed Tanning Before Wedding

I can tell you in my experience the only thing that worked with my acne was Accutane. It's a tough course and I wouldn't suggest it in your current situation. Definitely consider it for the future though. As far as tanning, I really wouldn't recommend it. If you must, take it easy. You don't want to burn.

I would recommend an airbrush tan done by a MUA. They usually look better and are much better for your skin than tanning beds.

Maybe only go 3 times a week at most.
If you're burnt, don't go that day.
And dont go back to back days.

I would recommend just getting a spray tan. You’ll have time to go a few times before your wedding to see what level you think looks best. It looks just as natural if it’s done right and it’s wayyyy better for your skin I don’t think the long term effects on your skin will be worth the short term possibility that it could clear some acne

I know too many people with (or those that have died from) skin cancers to EVER consider fake tanning. Is it worth dying for 20 years (or less) down the line?

Don’t. Skin cancer kills.

15 minutes in a tanning bed is equal to about 3 hours in the sun. If you use a good lotion and gradually start your tanning (3 minutes first go, 5 minutes next session gradually increase to 15) so as you won't burn you should be able to have nice color by your wedding time.
UV light whether it is from a bed or the sun can give you cancer. So can spray tans with the chemicals in them. So can many food ingredients (preservatives, dyes etc) that you eat every day. Moderation and paying attention to your body is key.

Better to have acne than cancer. I’d consider other options that previous posters suggested!

I would go to the dermatologist and see what she can prescribe you for the acne.
I’ve had the spray on tanning done so many times (both from Hollywood Tans - they have the mystic machine which works descent and buy someone who used a spray gun) I’m also pale. For the wedding I’m going to get it professionally done by the spray gun as in my opinion it blends better on the wrist/hands, ankles/feet.

The absolute worst thing you can do to a scar is a tanning bed! Ask 100 dermatologists and I promise you 100 will say do not do it. It will make your scars darker and more textured! If you can afford it, see a doctor about accutane. I struggled with cystic acne for 10 years and I soooooo feel for you! Just know that you will look beautiful on your day no matter what. Your make up will cover everything and you can worry about your skin at another time.

I didn't need Accutane - I found an esthetician (NOT a derm - they never could help me) who specialized in acne. I went for facials twice a month and she organized a skin care routine for me. It took 5 months before I was completely clear, and I now stick to my routine and go in every other month for a facial.

I will tell you this - for years I THOUGHT that the tanning bed helped my acne, but it just made it temporarily less noticeable. I tanned once a month when I had acne and it regrettably made my scarring much worse than it would have been. So I think if you only go a couple times before the wedding, it'll help conceal the acne. But please don't make it a habit. My skin would be spot/scar free if it wasn't for tanning beds.

See a dermatologist. I was surprised that he could immediately tell me what was going on with my skin and how to fix it. Luckily mine only took a few days to clear up with the prescriptions he gave me, but I notice the texture and tone improving as I continue to treat it.

If you decide to go the tanning route, explain what you’re wanting to the Tanning Consultant and they will be able to help! My FMIL manages a tanning salon that FH worked at for 5 years and I worked for 1, so trust me when I say that if you’re wanting to tan, the consultant can help.
You mentioned you’re fair skinned, they’ll probably start you off slowly so I’d recommend doing a package that has X amount of minutes in it versus X sessions you can go in for. If you buy 100 tanning minutes, you can do various lengths of tanning (which is recommended until you have not burnt/reached the maximum time allotted in a bed which is typically 20 mins) whereas if you get 10 sessions then if you only tan for 3 minutes your first day then you’re somewhat wasting your money.
Additionally, you should switch between a tanning bed and a bronzing bed. Every third or fourth session you should be going into the bronzing bed which just helps to give you that rich color.
Buy a good lotion at the salon. Tanning lotion and sunscreen are totally different, and if you have tattoos or scars the Consultant can help with finding the perfect lotion for you. Most places also have $2-$8 sample packets of lotions you can try.

Please feel free to message me about any tanning questions you may have, and good luck!

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This is absolutely true. If you are pale, maybe even try 3 minutes for the first time and increase the minute increments each time. You CAN feel yourself burning in the bed, if you get to hot, cut the time short and leave. I would say to buy a monthly package the month before your wedding, you will be able to maximize the tan and make sure to never tan without lotion! They have special lotions you can put on your face. You NEVER have max out at 15 minutes, but the bed will give you a beautiful glow. You will not get skin cancer for a month worth of tanning....its the women who go everyday every month and then complain about skin cancer....

I'm tanning as well to add some color to my fair skin as well. I use a bronzer, but have to be careful of streaking.
Don't allow yourself to burn. If you do, don't tan again until the redness has subsided. Gradual increase in time is best.
If you stop tanning a month before your wedding some of your tan may fade. They always have specials were you can tan once, three times and 5 if you need.
You won't risk skin cancer with a short period of time. It should help dry up the acne problem.

I’m not a big fan of tanning beds, but the people who are telling you that they cause cancer also prob sit out in the sun on vacation. UV Is UV. Be smart, don’t go to much and always always wear sunscreen especially on your face. Spray tans are great (as long as you don’t turn orange) but as soon as I mentioned getting one to my dress consultant her face said it all. If you start sweating (which you will) that spray tan is going to bleed onto that expensive white dress you have on, underarms will rub etc.

I as well know the risks of cancer with a tanning bed. However just about everything you do has risks. I was recommended using a tanning bed for my acne as well. It worked wonders. To get a good tan I got a sun tan lotion from Walmart that already had a bronzer in it but it was not orange like. I don’t take too long to tan though just don’t ever tan outside for some reason. so once I got the color I was looking for I went 3 times a week just to keep it. I’ve had spray tans which looked good at first, but they wore off funny and I had white spots everywhere and it made my acne tremendously worse. Of course that’s just my experience. My recommendation with tanning bed is make sure you exfoliate before and I use nair for sensitive instead of a razor on my leg to prevent any removing color or such plus it’s easy and I’m lazy 😂

Please don’t use tanning beds. We know way too much about real & measurable risks of skin cancer with use of tanning beds. This is by no means the same as risk of “everything else” that some pp are talking about here.

Tanning beds are also bad for acne scars (or any scars) & will just make them worse with time. If you have active acne some natural sunlight is helpful to calm them down, but if you have acne scars nothing but a visit to a dermatologist will help longterm.

Lastly, why is pale skin (or any other skin color) bad or undesirable? I never understand this. I work in cosmetic industry & I see women in India & Asia buying bleaching & lightening creams because they want pale skin. Then you look in US & bronzers, tanning creams & spray tan are all the rage. Why are we never just happy with our own skin color? Your skin is equally beautiful no matter what shade it is ❤️

View Quoted Comment Love this! People keep telling me to get a spray tan. Why? So I can look like someone else completelt on my wedding day. I'm happy with the way I look, why should I change? Everyone is entitled to look however they please!

I have had great luck with the Murad line of products. A little pricey but I think worth the money. Tanning beds are really dangerous and not worth the risk.