Sly Bald Guys Forum

Head Shaving, Grooming & Care => How To Protect Your Bald Head => Topic started by: JasonR on October 20, 2009, 03:16:44 PM

Title: Tanning Question
Post by: JasonR on October 20, 2009, 03:16:44 PM
Ok...so I have sort of a farmer's tan going on...and my head / neck could be tanner (I usually wear hats outside). I'm going in for minor surgery on my scalp next week, and I want to get some sort of tan before I do. Reason being is I have to take REALLY good care of the scars (2 small scars) for them to heal properly and for them to not be noticeable. Obviously I can't be out in the sun after that.

So should I hit a tanning booth for a week and a half? I don't want to damage my skin...and i've tanned before. But some people say it won't hurt and some say it will.

I think my only other options are Jurgen's Natural Glow...and I don't know how well that works. I'm not super white, and I get pretty dark when I've been out in the sun. I'd like to avoid all that skin cancer stuff, and I don't like crazy sun dots on my head. LOL. Suggestions?

And if I go the Jurgen's route how in the HELL do I get in on my back?
Title: Re: Tanning Question
Post by: marty22 on October 20, 2009, 06:59:52 PM
glad to see youre back
Title: Re: Tanning Question
Post by: JasonR on October 21, 2009, 11:57:43 AM
How goes it Marty?
Title: Re: Tanning Question
Post by: marty22 on October 21, 2009, 12:07:22 PM
all quiet; golf game sux, Yanks are winning, etc. Sorry bout u and the gf.
Title: Re: Tanning Question
Post by: JasonR on October 21, 2009, 01:52:56 PM
Plenty of fish in the sea..and I'm young. It's probably a good thing.  ;D
Title: Re: Tanning Question
Post by: JasonR on October 22, 2009, 10:51:20 PM
Anyone? Tired of being white...but don't want to damage my skin / get skin cancer. :)
Title: Re: Tanning Question
Post by: baldguynextdoor on October 23, 2009, 12:05:11 AM

Hey Jason,

I know the farmer's tan is a pain, but I can tell you for sure that tanning beds will damage your skin and increase your chance of getting skin cancer.  Buckle up, 'cause I'm probably gonna overshare here. 

I stayed out of the sun as a kid, and have no family history of skin cancer, but I did use tanning beds sometimes while I was in college and for a few years afterwards.  At this point, I've lost track of how many times I've had basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers, but it's somewhere between 15 and 20 (and that's just in the 10 years between my 30th and 40th birthdays).  According to my dermatologist, the tanning beds are probably the culprit.  I also wound up with so much pre-cancerous tissue in my face that I had to have expensive, painful treatment (which required 10 days of recovery) to get rid of it before it became malignant. 

I've spent many thousands of dollars, I'm covered in scars of various sizes, and my risk of developing malignant melanoma at some point in my life is now WAY higher than average.  I don't want to get all preachy on you, and I realize my experience is probably a lot worse than the average person's - but man, stay out of the tanning beds and make friends with your sunscreen (especially important for bald guys).   I know getting some color can be appealing in the short term, but I can tell you it wasn't worth the money, the discomfort, the risk of death or disfigurement, or the premature aging. 

You gotta protect that excellent noggin, and the rest of your Sly self.  Good luck with the surgery, man. 
Title: Re: Tanning Question
Post by: DaDi on October 23, 2009, 12:13:56 AM
Good luck with the surgery Jason.  O0
Title: Re: Tanning Question
Post by: jamesh75 on October 23, 2009, 05:09:08 AM
Definitely stay away from the tanning beds.  I use the Jergens Natural Glow and it works great.  After only a couple days of using it twice a day and you'll see a big difference.  The nice thing too, is I just bought some more, and they reformulated it to include sunscreen.
Title: Re: Tanning Question
Post by: Nonick on October 23, 2009, 06:30:57 AM
I second what James said about the Natural Glow.  It's good stuff and it doesn't turn my skin to an unnatural shade. O0  I've actually gotten compliments about my "tan"!  :*))
Title: Re: Tanning Question
Post by: Tyler on October 23, 2009, 02:23:09 PM
guynxtdr, thanks for posting up to share you story!
Title: Re: Tanning Question
Post by: Junglerot on October 25, 2009, 11:25:30 AM
When going thru the forums I like it when different people just throw in there 2 cents in even when they just are agreeing with previous posts (not offering any different point of view); it strengthens or helps me make the choice to try it more than if one dood posts and then no one agrees.  What happens is only people that disagree post and I am discouraged from trying it.

To that end I have found many places in the forums that guys like Jergens Natural Glow, so I picked some up last night.  so far I like it, look forward to the natural glow!!
Title: Re: Tanning Question
Post by: D.A.L.U.I. on October 25, 2009, 11:35:14 AM
Well, I have only had eight skin cancers--the probably cause, in the late fifties and early sixties skin doctors treated acne w/ what was essentially a tanning light in the belief that a slight sun burn was good to dry excess oils and eliminate the infection in the follicles and sweat glands--they were WRONG. 
So, take advantage of that lesson, stay away from the tanning lights and "cure" your skin color w/ the Jergens if you must, otherwise randomly being in the sun w/ a spf4 to 10 will let you tan slowly and as safely as possible.  Note:  for the future, people who are always tanned show their age more because every tan damages the skin. 
Title: Re: Tanning Question
Post by: JasonR on October 26, 2009, 02:03:23 PM
So looks like Jergen's Natural Glow is the clear winner.

Now how do I get it on my back? I'm single and I don't want to ask my roommate to do it. LOL
Title: Re: Tanning Question
Post by: baldhog on November 20, 2009, 03:17:49 AM
I don't know where you live but you could also try the spray tan.  They do it at the tanning salon, but its basically like spraying the jergen's glow stuff all over you.  It comes out even (and they get your back for you) and looks good, as if you've been in the tanning bed... but without the skin cancer.
Title: Re: Tanning Question
Post by: Timmay on November 20, 2009, 08:38:26 AM
Good Luck Jason.  Yes the lotion is the route to go.  I would stay away from tanning beds.  If you really want it on your back, just ask him.  Dont tell anyone you had him do it.  Shhhhhhhhhh I wont tell no one.
Title: Re: Tanning Question
Post by: Nonick on November 20, 2009, 08:38:23 PM
You know, there has to be some sort of a solution...
I've thought about taking an old (clean and dry) wash cloth and putting it over one of those back scrubbing brushes (with the long handle) and tie it on with some string or maybe a strong rubber band, and putting some of the lotion on the wash cloth and applying it that way.  If you apply it to your back first and then use any extra that's on the wash cloth for the rest of you, it might not be much of a waste!   ;)
Title: Re: Tanning Question
Post by: Timmay on November 21, 2009, 06:55:17 AM
i still say go with the back rub from the roommate..... lol
Title: Re: Tanning Question
Post by: buddha on November 21, 2009, 06:57:56 AM
So looks like Jergen's Natural Glow is the clear winner.

Now how do I get it on my back? I'm single and I don't want to ask my roommate to do it. LOL

Are you familiar with the term "working girl"? If you can find one I'm sure she'll be happy to rub some on your back. >:D
Title: Re: Tanning Question
Post by: Iconic on November 27, 2009, 04:52:49 AM
What about alternatives to Natural Glow? I'm in need of some artificial tan but that "Natural" isn't available here. Sides of my head are shadowed by tones of blue and grey. I'm thinking about Nivea Summer Look, anyone familiar with it?
Title: Re: Tanning Question
Post by: Nonick on November 27, 2009, 07:25:28 AM
If you're located out in E. Poedunk somewhere, and don't have a store nearby, do you get mail service?  If so, go online somewhere and buy it on-line!  I went to the walgreens website and found some: http://www.walgreens.com/store/catalog/Sunless-Tanning/Natural-Glow-Express-Body-Moisturizer/ID=prod3885162&navCount=5&navAction=push-product
I was surprised to find out that the kind with the SPF 20 was out of stock!  There must be a lot of lurkers buying up the supplies!   :*)) :*)) :*))
Title: Re: Tanning Question
Post by: hawkeye on November 27, 2009, 03:06:31 PM
The Jergens doesn't leave dark splotchy marks like some of the tanners do?  I remember using some tanning lotion and it looked like i crapped on my self.  Dark splotchy areas.  I would hate that to happen to the noggin... 

Anyways, i bought the jergens natural glow and will try it somewhere i can cover first...just in case.  Had turkey day and everyone commented on the shaved head.  All positive comments, except for those that mentioned the contrast between my face (which apparently has a tan) and my head.

Rich
Title: Re: Tanning Question
Post by: Nonick on November 27, 2009, 10:06:16 PM
Hawkeye, I think you will be pleasantly surprised how it covers evenly and I've never had a problem with blotching, but everyone is a bit different, and your scalp may be different from the next person. 
Since it changes gradually over a period of a few days, you may not notice the difference at first.  But if it is on a part of your body that others can see, they may notice before you do.  I've used it evenly from the neck up and got compliments (from guys!) on my tan! I hope it works as well for you as it did for me.  O0