indoor tanning debacle, any advice?

My sorority's semiformal is next weekend, so a friend and I went to a tanning salon.  I asked the clerk working there to give me a low intensity setting, just because it was my first time doing this.  She obviously didn't listen!  My skin is lobster-red and my face hurts so much I can't move it!  I've also been feeling like I do when I'm out in the sun too long -- nausea, chills, feeling lightheaded, etc.

Have any of you experienced anything similar?  And what is the best treatment from here on out?  I hope all of this clears up by Saturday so I look semi-normal in photos...

Aloe is really good for a sunburn.  You can even keep the bottle in the fridge so it's nice and cool when you put it on.  Other than that, I would make sure you're using plenty of moisturizer, staying out of the sun, and drinking lots of water tonight and tomorrow.  That should help you feel better.  The color should be a lot mellower by next weekend, so I wouldn't stress about that.  I wouldn't go back to that salon, though!

aww im sorry to hear that. the same thing happened to me like a week ago. i was in a kinda of high intensity tanning bed for 10 mins(didnt no that til after i got home). i could barley move the next 2 days. but by the third day it started to get alot better. all i can say to do is buy some aloe vera lotion and keep putting it on the burn. it helps sooth it for a little while and helps it heal faster. but chances are your going to peel, like i am now ugh. very unattractive. but good luck hope you feel better soon.

oh man, that sucks!! that's exactly why you couldn't pay me to set foot in a tanning salon! definitely moisturize your face a lot, and once it's no longer painful, i'd suggest using a gentle exfoliator so you aren't all peely for your semiformal! and stay out of those tanning beds from now on, they're awful for ya!!

thank you so much for all of your help guys!! :)

That sucks!  I'm so sorry you had such a bad experience.  I would definitely call the salon and complain! 

I have worked in the tanning industry for many years.  In my experience you should not use regular over the counter aloe vera.  If you check the ingredients it has alcohol...very drying and causes peeling.  (It is actually recommended for acne.)  There is a product by California Tan (you can find their products at most tanning salons) called Total Insurance that is used by indoor tanners to extend their tan or relieve overexposure.  It is a gel that has aloe vera in it, but I don't think it has the alcohol.  Otherwise, use a moisturizing lotion.  One good one is Cetaphil.  I would avoid anything with mineral oil b/c that has a tendency to just sit on top of your skin rather than just moisturizing it.  Use cold compresses and drink lots of water.  Try not to rub too much on your skin and I would suggest avoiding the use of soap for today.  Hopefully it will heal without peeling b/c that's even worse for your skin than the burn itself. 

Not that you will, but don't tan until there is absolutely no redness left.  (You'd be surprised at how many people actually do!)  I hope it feels better soon!  Tanning bed burns hurt worse than outside burns!  I feel so bad for you!  Call those people and give them a piece of your mind!

Aloe never helped me. I went to a tanning bed once and got fried. My friend said her mom always put a mix of vinegar and water (like half-half mixture) on her and her sister when they burned as kids. I tried this and it helped kill the pain (though you'll stink until you shower)... but it did help./

It's kind of messy, but I had a dermatologist tell me to buy cheap aspirin and make a paste and smear it all over.  It really helps with the discomfort and seemed to take the heat out.

Cortisone always really helped me.  Not only does it help a little with the pain but it actually seems to take some of the redness away and seems to heal much faster.  I know cortisone is for itching and insect bites and stuff, but it also helps burns.  Buy a tube of Cortisone and smear it all over your burns.  It will help!

The treatments listed here all sound good. If you can't go around smelling like vinegar or asprin, you can always get some numbing spray for your burn, which does numb you. It's something I've used to cope with sun burns. It sounds like you got yourself good and fried!

PS. It's not the setting that matters, it's the length of time that matters.

Oh, and make sure you're drinking enough water and getting plenty of vitamin E.

I've had that happen to me before, too.  What I hate is when they don't tell you that they just changed the bulbs on the beds.

Once when that happened, I did call and complain.  I had purchased a month's unlimited tanning, and since no one told me about the new bulbs (I even asked!), I couldn't go for half of the time I had paid for.  They gave me another month for free.

On a final note, tanning really is bad for you, so try to limit the amount of time you spend in tanning beds.  I have semi-sworn off of them, but I am going to purchase a few minutes to get a bit of a base tan for my trip to Mexico next month...

tylenol helps take the sting off your skin.  But the only real thing that will help your burn is time-  two-three days you should be feeling better.  But, moisturize your butt off becuase you don't want to peel.  I went tanning once and then went to my class-  with a cold washcloth on my stomach.  i didn't even care that my shirt was rolled up in the middle of class.  i was burnt to a crisp!!!  i feel you!

Original Post by hgielrehtaeh:

PS. It's not the setting that matters, it's the length of time that matters.

actually it does matter what setting its on. i went tanning in the beds at my gym and i didnt realize they keep them on a higher setting than the level 1 beds at the tanning salon (which is what i am used to). i was only in there 10 mins and got totally fried.

Original Post by xostephxo:

Original Post by hgielrehtaeh:

PS. It's not the setting that matters, it's the length of time that matters.

actually it does matter what setting its on. i went tanning in the beds at my gym and i didnt realize they keep them on a higher setting than the level 1 beds at the tanning salon (which is what i am used to). i was only in there 10 mins and got totally fried.

 Well excuse me then, I'm not used to the "new fangled" tanning beds. I haven't been in years, once I became educated on how horrible they are for you. When I did go, there were beds that had more frying power than others. And when they change bulbs, it would fry you faster, too. I had no idea that there were magical switches to burn their victims faster or slower.

Have fun in your ultraviolet coffin!

Thank you to everyone for their product suggestions...I stopped by Duane Reade on my lunch break to pick up a whole bunch.  The cashier asked me if I was ok, how embarrassing is that?!  It's good to hear that this shouldn't last more than another few days though and I am definitely going to avoid the tanning salon in the future.

Cocoa butter lotion has always helped me after a sunburn. It moisturizes very well and keeps me from peeling.

Good luck!

Original Post by xostephxo:

Original Post by hgielrehtaeh:

PS. It's not the setting that matters, it's the length of time that matters.

actually it does matter what setting its on. i went tanning in the beds at my gym and i didnt realize they keep them on a higher setting than the level 1 beds at the tanning salon (which is what i am used to). i was only in there 10 mins and got totally fried.

The tanning salon I used to go to had regular sessions or turbo ones- the same bed but set at a different intensity depending on which you choose.

I'm glad to hear you are going to try and avoid the tanning salon. One sure-fire way to never use them again is to find a dermatologist that has a special camera that will take a picutre of the underlayers of your skin -- it will show you all of the lovely damage you have done from the tanning salon. I had it done and was horrified at the results considering I was not a hardcore user of the tanning bed. Looking like a raisin-face when you are older isn't worth it.

Original Post by jeslnn:

 Looking like a raisin-face when you are older isn't worth it.

 Or dying of skin cancer!

First, my obligatory snarky comment: if you could see the hole in my father-in-law's face, and the frankenstein scars leftover from his surgery to remove skin cancer, you would never step foot in a tanning bed - EVER!! No, his cancer did not kill him. But young children are frightened of him now. It's not pretty. :-(

Now, my answer to your question:

Best treatment for sunburn is to draw yourself a hot bath,  dump an entire box of Lipton tea bags into it, let it steep until the bath becomes lukewarm. Remove the tea bags and climb in to soak.

I'm not sure why or how this works, but it is a tip I learned in high school after frying myself on the beach. And it works really well to reduce pain, swelling, etc.

Original Post by hgielrehtaeh:

Original Post by xostephxo:

Original Post by hgielrehtaeh:

PS. It's not the setting that matters, it's the length of time that matters.

actually it does matter what setting its on. i went tanning in the beds at my gym and i didnt realize they keep them on a higher setting than the level 1 beds at the tanning salon (which is what i am used to). i was only in there 10 mins and got totally fried.

 Well excuse me then, I'm not used to the "new fangled" tanning beds. I haven't been in years, once I became educated on how horrible they are for you. When I did go, there were beds that had more frying power than others. And when they change bulbs, it would fry you faster, too. I had no idea that there were magical switches to burn their victims faster or slower.

Have fun in your ultraviolet coffin!

 geese!!! i wasnt trying to be rude or anything. i was just letting her know that it does matter.