Checking those little brown spots on your body (tanning)

Xeno

I have fairly light skin, and during the summer, I ALWAYS burn. Very hard for me to get a tan. Instead, I just look red. So I decided that for this summer, I'm gonna try and get a base tan down. I usually go for 6 minutes each visit and by the time I'm done, I look a little red, but that's about it. I just want my skin to be ready for summer time. Anyways, I have gone to a tanning salon recently. I've only been there 3 times and I go twice a week. 6 minutes each time in the stand up machine.

My mom noticed two of those brown spots on by chest. I know that sometimes these things lead to skin cancer. However, for the life of me, I can't remember if I've had these spots for a long time or they are brand new. I tried searching google, but it has been useless.

Basically, I would like to know what these spots are called and how I can check if they are going to be a problem. Is there a guide to see what these brown spots look like when they are bad versus when they are harmless?

Thanks guys.

Trowizilla

If you're fair-skinned and burn easily, trying to get a tan is asking, nay, begging for skin cancer. Laying down a "base tan" is just as terrible for you as burning to begin with. That redness you get after going to the tanning salon is pretty much equivalent to a sunburn.

Your spots are probably freckles, or, if they're raised, moles. They can turn into melanoma easily, so get them checked out by a doctor and wear sunscreen. If you're that set on not being so pale, invest in a decent spray-on tan. Personally, though, I'd just skip the hassle and stay pale.

Grizzled

Here's a copy of the standard guide to checking on your moles:
http://healthcare.utah.edu/healthinfo/pediatric/Derm/scancer.htm

(scroll down for some images of normal vs. bad moles)

If you end up getting lots of them like me, you can have a dermatologist check you out once a year to keep an eye on things. Assuming you have access to some kind of health insurance, you should get a physical from your regular doctor and then tell them you want a dermatology referral. If some of your moles start looking gnarly like the ones on the chart, they may slice it off (doesn't really hurt) and run it through the lab to make sure it's not cancerous.

I won't address "getting a base tan" except to advise that you don't because it is not good for you; it's just for looks and you may end up with skin cancer, yay.

ihmmy

buy some sun screen, always use it in the summer
pale is sexy

tsmvengy

If you are super pale and only burn in the summer, then tanning is a BAD IDEA. Seriously, you're going to have to just suck it up, stick with SPF 45, and admit that there's no way you're getting a tan.

Also, if you have a mole that you are worried about (the linked article goes over the basic differences between regular moles and possible danger signs) then you should see a doctor.

I think you're just going to have to resign yourself to the fact that you don't tan. Just use some sunscreen.

BlochWave

Freckles are typical, you're like me(I'm a pale redhead)you need to stop trying to tan because it's not gonna work, and if it does "work", you're gonna be a weird shade and look all awkward(like a reddish tint to you because you're not really tanned, just like perma-burned)Plus you're gonna freckle hilariously

If you're naturally fair skinned you shouldn't be trying to get a tan, you should be trying to stay the hell out of the sun so you can live past 40. The fact that you always burn is a little alarming, you MUST wear sunscreen if you're out in the sun, that's not something to be nonchalant about, skin cancer isn't terribly cool, even if all the cute teenage girls are begging for it. Yes a little exposure to the sun is ok, Vitamin D and stuff, but you're fair skinned 'cuz your ancestors lived in a northern latitude where it was cloudy and cold and they never got much sunlight, so the pale skin sucks downs a buttload so they could get a healthy amount.