Hello everyone,
I will very much appreciate your advice on this issue.
I'm in my mid-30s, have fair skin and suffer from sunspots on my cheeks and forehead (from childhood sun exposure). A derm I consulted long ago said that my skin was just prone to sunspots even if I did not spend as much time outdoors as my friends with fair skin did. When I was young, every time I played outdoors in the summer or went to the beach I'd get sunburnt (never suntanned). It was so serious, I once ended up in hospital because I had a fever. Even though I applied those sticky, nasty sun protection lotions, I'd get sunburnt. Also, I admit I hated to feel my skin all sticky because of those lotions and the sand. As an adult, about 7 years ago, I decided not to sunbathe anymore, not to go to beaches during the summer and to avoid the sun as much as possible.
When I had a chance to go to Florida (9 years ago), I was afraid of not enjoying the vacation due to sunburnt, so I went to a tanning salon (ie., those with tanning beds) before departure so that my skin would not be so fair once I got to the beach. I was happy about the results. I had a suntaned without a sunburnt and could enjoy my vacation. Of course, my sunspots got much worse after I used the tanning bed.
So 7 years ago I took advantage of the fact that my job requires travelling and I have been avoiding summers (really, believe it or not...). Also, anytime I go outdoors I apply sunblock lotion, wear sunglasses and a big ridiculous hat. Now, what do you think I should do if I had a chance to spend a week at the beach? What would happen to my skin, which has not been exposed to the summer sun for years? Should I go to the tanning salon again? Are there any great sunblock products out there? Is there a way to get suntanned (and thus not sunburnt) without sunbathing that's safe (I know there are tanning pills, and some self-tanning lotions...but it seems to me they tend to make the skin look orange...and leave permanent spots).
Thanks!!!
Carola