My girlfriend is 24 and she is the sweetest girl ever. She is a "good girl" and is very classy. The thing is, she has used tanning beds since she was 16, and uses them 4-5 times per week. She says she really enjoys it, it's relaxing for her, and she really likes how she looks tan. I have told her that I would love her even if she wasn't tan, but it really makes her sad when I say that and the last time she started tearing up really bad. She said the tanning bed really relaxes her and she desperately wants my approval. What should I do?
Foofa2019-09-08T16:27:08Z
That's too much tanning and her skin is going to look like leather by the time she's 30. UV rays don't care whether they're natural or from an artificial light source. But she'd hardly be the only one who became (behaviorally) "addicted" to tanning beds. You can't really change this in her unless she decides to change. This could be your future...
Has she seen the research regarding skin cancer rates for those who use tanning beds? Essentially, there are no "safe" ones. Most of us look better with a little tan, but 4-5 times/week seems excessive to me. Perhaps there's a way you can point out the stats re: skin cancer and how much you care about her and don't want her to become one of those statistics... You have to do it in a way that isn't accusatory; she obviously really likes you if she wants your approval.
What you should do is provide her with some documented facts about how terribly bad it is for one's skin, can lead to skin cancers, premature aging, and how she shouldn't do it at all. She's foolish to continue, as everyone should already know this. There are OTHER WAYS TO RELAX. Take up swimming, for example, or yoga, mediation, exercise, for goodness' sake, learn to go fishing ! She isn't going to look anything but like a very tan prune, in due time.