get a tan !!!

[babalicious]

going to florida next april and i'm quite body concious, not with my size but my colour i am milk bottle white, literally! i don't like going out in the sun, i know this is stupid with going to florida but i'm not going for the sun! can anyone suggest what i could do, if anything of are there a lot of people like me over there!

[gazzawazza]

Baba, even if you're not going for the sun you need to be careful. We were there in June and did the theme parks, and were constantly telling our girls to put on the sunstuff. Even so, the youngest, who at that time was 15 had a nasty do fainting due to the heat and we had to spend a full day resting her in our apartment. It was nice to have an excuse to just chill in the pool all day!

Go for a few sessions on a sunbed for a couple of weeks prior to going, and have fun, you will absolutely love it. I can tell by your numerous posts how excited you are with still a year to go!

[buchmeyer]

Yes, Baba -- be careful. Also be careful in the tanning beds -- I am olive-skinned and burned myself in a tanning bed -- I'm not a fan of them.

You will need sunblock! and a hat! Try wearing very light cotton, long sleeved clothing. You could also consider carrying an umbrella.

www.palmhaven.net (my house in Kissimmee )

[babalicious]

thanks for the advice. but if i go as i am, am i gonna get laughed at for being so white!!!?

[flipflop104]

I am white too. Before going on hol I always go for a spray tan in a booth at my local tanning studio (�13).

The tan only colours to your skin so if you're fair the tan will only "develop" as fair and if you're dark it will develop darker.

It only lasts 7-10 days so by the time it's wearing off you will be starting to acwuire a "proper" tan from the sun.

But start off with a high factor in Florida 15-20 and start using a factor 8 only once your skin is getting used to it - at least a week in.

If you're doing the tourist theme park stuff, it's not too bad as you're in and out of attractions/rides (so it gives your skin a break) and in queues for rides which are generally under cover and usually have a "mist" spray to keep you cool.

Have fun! I'm jealous!

[gazzawazza]

Flipflop, I'm trying not to be pedantic, but that's exactly what we were doing when our youngest daughter had a nasty turn. We didn't do any "sunbathing" per se, but still it was enough to make her unwell. T

hat's why I posted in the first place, to let babalicious know that even if she thinks it's okay it isn't, she must take proper precautions like using sunbloc and staying covered up as much as possible because I think it will be a lot worse for a fair-skinned person.

I too am dead jealous, it'll be a long time before we can afford to go again!

[babalicious]

thanks guys, but am i gonna noticed and the rip taken out of me!!

[chazza]

I would disagree with some of the above posts on here. If you have very fair skin, I would strongly advise against going on the sunbeds, as you are the most likely to burn.

As for fake tanning, check with the salon, as I have seen several people going a strange yellowy-orange colour in the sun as the sun reacted with the fake tan!

I wouldnt worry about looking different, you will see all sorts of sights out there! No. 7 does a cream that helps develop your tan with the natural sunlight, you could try it!

[mkt]

babalicious you wont have the mick taken out of you at all! I'm lily white and have always been quite conscious of it especially when on hols but i would never consider using a sunbed prior to going away as the risks far outweigh a little ribbing. Besides it wont happen anyway. Trust me if you've never been to Florida before, when you get there your eyes will be opened to all kinds of people, every shape, size and shade of tan imaginable! You'll be standing out the least out of everyone! Do take care though. I was last there in March last year and always go this sort of time or October as its a little cooler but it can still get much hotter than you're usually used to and even half hour in the sun can cause you to burn. I always use a good factor sun cream, keep my shoulders covered as they are prone to burn and usually wear a hat. Also when you're putting your sun block on don't forget to do the tips of your ears! Everyone thinks im crazy but honestly you'd be surprised how quickly they catch and how much it stings!

Very jealous youve got this hol planned!! Please don't spoil it by worrying about your skin tone as i say there are some weird and wacky people out there and you'll be as normal as normal can be!

[gazzawazza]

I can see my initial advice was obviously wrong, sorry for that, I was thinking about adding colour rather than burning or causing skin problems which may be worse for a fair-skinned person. Listen to what others have said regarding sunbeds, never use them myself so I don't really know what i'm talking about! Sorry once again.

[flipflop104]

I am fair skinned (white) and have NEVER burnt in Orlando and I have been in April/May time, August time and October/November time.

As long as you put the suncream on regularly (hourly) and drink plenty of water you should be fine. I still maintain that you will be in and out of things often enough (as long as you are doing the theme parks) that you should be ok.

As already said, I have very pale skin and have had a spray tan and never come out a funny colour.

[joannie10]

hear great reviews about johnsons 'holiday skin' just really a daily moisturiser that builds up a bit of a tan. not like using a fake tan - more gradual. Important to wash hands though as this is the only place i have hear people getting some streaking. Very important though while you are away you use plenty sunscreen and of course wear a hat. What about the Piz Buin stuff that you only need to apply once a day seemingly or there is one pf20/20 or something??