Tanning - fake, don't bake!

3:20pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

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THE glossy magazines tell us to look pale and interesting, but as most of us know, brown and beautiful seems to work best.

Even more so for youngsters - their wardrobe suits a tan. Low rise-jeans, bare midriffs, short ruffle skirts are just a few of this summer's essentials and we haven't even hit the beach.

No wonder teens and 20-somethings are spending as much time in the tanning salon as they are at the nail bar. But getting all tanned up' has its price.

No one knows this better than former sun worshipper Karen Trainer, who now works as a spray tanner.

"I used to go on sunbeds a lot, said Karen, who works at Cuticles, Manchester Road, Haslingden.

"But I learnt my lesson after someone in my family developed skin cancer from going on sunbeds. Also listening to other people's stories about premature ageing made me realise it wasn't worth it."

Now Karen works giving beauty-conscious customers a glowing tan without the risk.

"The bottom line is you're better being safe than sorry."

Another woman who turned her back on ultra-violet rays is Hurst Green business woman Francesca Mckeown who set up her own spray tanning business four years ago and launched the an online spray tan directory www.tanprofessional.com.

The 45-year-old, of Longridge Road, said: "I used to be a sunbed person but now I think What's the point?' "The warning signs weren't there for my age group and I find that a lot of customers who get spray tans are ones who used to use sunbeds but learnt their lesson when their skin began to age prematurely or they got pigmentation.

"What's important now is educating the young ones - many local authorities have taken sunbeds out of leisure centres and sunbed shops are now asked to ask for proof that clients are over 18.

"A tan seems to be part and parcel of the lives we lead nowadays," she said, "and while I would never say to someone you can't go on a sunbed' I would say that spray tanning is the best option."

According to a survey, commissioned by Cancer Research UK, eight out of 10 sunbed users have increased their risk of a life-threatening form of skin cancer by around 75 per cent, by using a sunbed before the age of 35. Malignant melanoma, the potentially fatal form of skin cancer, is now the most common cancer in young adults aged between 15 and 34.

Now many celebrities have begun faking it to safely get that sun kissed look without risking their health.

TV presenter and actress Denise Van Outen recently admitted that her teenage sunbed addiction left her with pigmentation scars on her face which she still has to wear heavy make up to hide.

Doctor Tom Smith, Lancashire Telegraph columnist, said he would advise people to stay away from sunbeds altogether.

He said: "There is proof that sunbed-users who then expose their skin to natural sunlight on holiday have a 10-fold increased risk of skin cancers than their fellow sunbathers.

"It is especially dangerous for those who are from the north of England where the natural sunlight is weaker."

But Dr Tom said it was also important not to become sun phobic, he added: "A bit of natural sunlight is very good for you. It builds up you levels of vitamin D which keeps you healthy. But it is very important not to burn.

"Fake it if you want a tan. My professional opinion is that it is the only option.