I lived in Norway for three years a few decades ago. Most of my work was based way up in the Arctic circle and there was no daylight for ages. So I took to following the locals and went to a sunbed three times a week. I felt good.
I am seriously thinking of doing this here and now as the aches and pains are way too much.
Worth a shot?
I like the sound of that I think I’d like to do the same
Here’s some advice from the British Assoc of Dermatologists. They don’t recommend sun beds. As a source making of Vit D they say it plateaues rapidly and the high level of UVA make the risks outweigh the benefits.
bad.org.uk/for-the-public/s...
This also says UVA (the predominant UV Ray) penetrates the deep layers of the skin which is where the increase in cancer comes from, and the UVB is the one that gives the Vit D and burns too. Skin cancer.org are extremely down on sun beds.
skincancer.org/skin-cancer-...
Thanks for that Snazzy, l’m not up to googling at the moment! Kidney Pain Playing Up +++
🙁💐
Hope your pain soon settles
Thanks, the Antibiotics always seem to aggravate my Kidney, that will be my next task to get that sorted out!
Hope you’re doing OK? 🌷
Waiting for ct scan results on kidney and another cystoscopy. He found a small spot of inflammation in my bladder and wants to to a biopsy
When are you going for that? My CT came back clear, it st least no sign of any stones.
I was going to bop "like", but there's nothing to like about kidney pain!!
Hope you feel better soon. You really have gone through it lately haven't you?
Get well soon. Hugs + 💐💐
Thanks Constance x
I find myself pressing like and thinking actually i dont like it. A thumbs down or a non smiley emoji would be good. 🌻
Definitely 😐
😮 sometimes too
😘 so sorry
Feel better soon💐
What’s up with your kidneys?
Hi, l’ve had pain in my flank area since December, l took a Urine Sample when l went for my first appointment with new GP she dipstick tested it & Positive +++++
Despite Antibiotics & a CT Scan to check to see if l had stones, my urine still tests positive +++ though the pain is nowhere as bad.
It’s my next challenge to get to the root of it, New Rheumatologist first on Thursday!....,.,
Personally l’d take Professional Advice, Sun beds carry risks to the skin ie Skin Cancer.
It’d be worth getting your Vitamin D Levels checked as low Vitamin D causes a lot of aches & pains. I had a one month booster dose about 5/6 years ago on top of the regular Calcium/VitD
I’ll echo that. Low Vit D can make you feel rubbish and can be fairly rapidly addressed with the right strength of supplement of 12 weeks before maintenance therapy if needed. I just have GCA but prior to diagnosis I felt achey and was waking up feeling like an old crock. My levels were in my boots but high doses put me right, all ready for my diagnosis for GCA.
Totally right.
There are plenty of safe ways to increase your Vitamin D levels without resorting to a sunbed.
In the UK it's Summer for pity sake , with proper sun protection , advice to people with Vitamin D deficiency that would make you knees bend is to get outside for 15 minutes a day to get levels back to normal amounts . Not much is it .
I assumed from David's comment that he no longer lives in endless night , and presumably as he is no longer living near the North Pole has access to a good chemist or can order a good supplement online .
Why on earth anybody would choose a sunbed , with its health risks , while taking a drug which already damages your skin health I don't know.
I saw the title alone and went " Eek!!" .
I am hoping that David added the post not because he was thinking of using a sunbed but as a way to highlight to others by our shocked replies that sunbeds are a stupid way to increase Vitamin D , or he was merely joking .
Gosh , I am being blunt again , perhaps I should stop answering questions while my diplomacy chip is on the blink.😋
Just keep those honest answers coming.
I was thinking of using a sun bed again! Was. I haven’t lived in lovely Norway for a loooong time. I was really fit then. I lived in California for 15 years and bounced around in the sun daily.
Hi, my husband suffers from Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) , this is caused by lack of sunshine. I looked on Amazon and bought a highly recommended light box, that apparently increases seratonin levels and improves mood. And have to say it works, they are expensive but worth every penny.
Sounds liked you lived in some great places , and I know years back there were very different views on sunbeds , many of us had different ideas of what was or wasn't healthy.
I understand were your motivation is from , when we are struggling and stiff we all look desparately for something that might speed the process of feeling better on and help us lose the pain.
We all look for stuff that we remember making us feel good or healthy in our youth too , it worked then , it might work now.
Unfortunately sunbeds aren't one of them.
It's the feel good factor of light and warmth plus the boost of vitamin D that makes the sun , natural or artificial so good for us.
But , with all the disadvantages of being in the sun unprotected or using sunbeds, especially with tender steroid skin , they aren't good options.
A vitamin D supplement if you need one and Just getting out in the sun with protection and doing some light exercise in the warmth , or a light box as some have suggested in dark days will bring back that youthful feeling again without the added skin damage.
Take care xx
Hi,
Take medical advice please, remember your skin is affected by steroids, so it might not be a good idea.
Right on DorsetLady. My skin gets red through clothing. Sun really bad for us with thin skin. I take 5,000 a day and my last test my level was 35. Normal. We all absorb differently.
I suggest even if using the USA measurements your level is low.
I think i would just rather sit out/walk and sit in a park. My vitd deficency was probably caused by wearing spf50 all.tbe time. Now i carry a small spray of spf 50 and wait until my arms and face have have 20 mins in the sun before i cover up.
Sorry - no way. Sunbeds cause the same sun damage as real sun and can increase the risks of skin cancer. Pred is thought to be instrumental in increasing that risk and often causes people to burn more easily.
Far safer to sort the vit D level with supplements - the only supplements that are really worth it.
As with everything in my life.... not a moderate approach to the sun. Spf30 wide brimmed hat. Long sleeves, couldnt find affordable spf top so stuck to spf50. Dmard nasty re photosensitivity too.
In the adcal is the 200iu the vitd3 or the 750mg. I dont seemed to have saved the pil. Either way is that enough do you think?
I'm the only tourist who walks on the shady side of the street!
That would be me. My mind might be on the sunny side of the street but my body definitely won't be!
Vitamin D is measured in iu (International Units) and Calcium in mg. I am on 1600iu vitamin D daily and that only just stops my blood levels from falling. What a juggling game this all is!
I am due a blood test in the next couple if weeks so will try and cheat a vit d into in. I have never learned to juggle!
When did you last have one?
In the last 6-12 months?
Hope you can do better than me , I am still trying to persuade my GP that checking my Vitamin D level after my supplements to check that it has worked would seem sensible.
According to them you only need one every twelve months and they just assume the supplements have worked after you have been on them they don't need to test it again!
To be honest i think it might be 3 years but i cant find my bloods booklet thing. Sometimes i just say the last time i saw the dr tbey said i needed x testing. Its 50/50 whether i can convince them. It depends what kind of "nurse" it is. There seem to be several kind. Tbe "senior" or trained nurses seem to be able to add things if it looks like its relevant.
The science was so compelling, the commercial use of sun beds has been banned in Australia - we have enough problems with melanomas as it is.
The interesting thing is that Melanomas seem to have increased in incidence since the advent of sunblock. Also Melanomas can frequently occur where the sun never gets to. Good Vitamin D levels protect against all cancers.
Obviously melanomas occur in places other than those parts of the body totally exposed to sun , they grow were your skin is more fragile or can get consistent damage and wear and tear which makes it more susceptible to the sun when it is exposed and UV which is not totally filtered by thin clothes.
The reason that they are finding more melanomas despite the increase in use of skin protection isn't because the advice about sun protection is wrong , or because sun protection doesn't work , but because people are more aware of what they are looking for and going to have it treated before it's too late .
The increase in melanomas despite the use of sun cream is often because people have been overly exposed to sun or sunbed damage before they began to listen to the advice , or don't apply sun creams appropriately or often enough.
The increased records should be more of a warning against using sunbeds or going out in the sun unprotected , not justification for doing the wrong thing.
Sorry , for sounding blunt .
Hi there,please don’t.I did the same thing over the years for some colour and for pain relief,not regular.About 18 months ago we found some fantastic beds that actually gave me a nice tan/glow.Yes it made me feel good.Then last October I was diagnosed with my first few early skin cancers on my face.Had treatment that cleared them,now I have to wait for more to appear,never again.Have to use Factor 50 now,especially on the face because it’s new skin now.PLEASE BE CAREFUL EVERYONE.Xx
Sorry to hear that Nellie. Good Luck with your treatment 🍀
Thankyou
Thanks for the warning. I will keep y fingers crossed. A friend had similar experiences with skin cancer even without sunbeds. She had two more marks appear on her face recently but when biopsied they were negative. So try not to panic if new marks appear. Its not always bad news.
Indeed,Thankyou.Hope your friend end is ok.xx
Hmmm. I have often wondered if the almost total lack of Vitamin D diagnosed after blood test 2 years ago had anything to do with PMR diagnosed a few weeks later. I never was one for sitting outside although ironically I've had skin cancer (twice)!! I'd give the sun beds a miss if it was me.
Vit D deficiency is now being implicated in RA.
Plus it can cause all sorts of aches and pains and lethargy.
I assume your levels were corrected before the PMR diagnosis?
Yes, I assumed that as well!! Only one blood test given where lack of vitamin D originally diagnosed. No more blood tests since. I have an appointment this Wednesday and maybe (politely and casually) suggest another blood test - am feeling very brave, let's hope I still am by Wednesday! Many thanks for your post.
Yes go for it!
You don’t need the potential for low D pains muddying the water. It’s a reasonable request.
The blast of big doses i had weekly for 6weeks at the beginning of pmr almost gave me more of a boost than pred.
I think I feel a little better when I remember my VitD. My levels were checked the day after I returned from a week in Spain, so obv they were OK ☀️
I will definitely get mine tested during this months blood test. I was saying in another thread that my adcal is only 200iu which i dont think is enough.....we will see.
Make sure you have adequate supplies of Vitamin D
Have you thought about a light box? Wouldn't help body aches but would be helpful for mood. Haven't personally used but have thought about it
Spend the money instead on a nice jaunt to Spain and get a bit of ☀️
They have banned sun beds here in Australia due to the high risk of skin damage, but not before I baked in them 3 times a week during our winters for quite a number of years. They used to advertise they were safe but that was found to be a fallacy. Just had my first skin cancer removed in surgery. It was high up near my hairline, , a tiny tiny pinprick size patch. I am cut from hairline down to eyebrow ...they are like icebergs underneath. I’m 64 and no doubt will have more as I age.
Hope not , the one is bad enough.
Thanks for sharing your skin story with us though.
Yet more proof to steer clear of sunbeds .
Nevermind sunbeds...i am going to try and retire for the second time. Wish me luck!
Ha I retired and then went back and then The Windrush situation retired me .I have got used to it now and love it ,No money ,no stress ,plenty of time but you have to get used to it .I hated it at first ha ha ha because I had no money and was used to stress so that took some adjusting to .Go for it ,Hope you enjoy it .
I am thankful i didnt really use them. Had a few goes though in the early 80s. My worry is the amount of sun as a child. We all burned the first week on holiday if the sun was out. When you think people used to use oils on their skin to "brown".... Like a bloody 🦃
Oh yes, good old baby oil or coconut oil, spread it on and bake like a roast chicken. Not to say my skin damage was the result of the sun beds, but suffice to say that it was proved that the “not as dangerous as the UV rays of the sun” advertising comparing was a fallicy...it was proved that any UV rays harms the skin. Hence the ban of all solariums here. That says it all really, the need to ban them I mean.
Yes it was a big fat lie.there were those tablets that made you orange. I avoided those. I am sure spray tans will be seen as barbaric eventually. I do like a wipe with a face tan wipe occasionally as i have always had a sallow complexion and look almist grey in the winter. The red pred cheeks was the first time in my life I had colour!
Haha...yep, can relate to the pred colouring! 🙇♀️
All I can say is my Rheumatologist has told me to use the highest factor sun cream because I will be more susceptible to sun damage now . Steroids weaken the skin .
I take a daily multivitamin/mineral pill. I think it makes a huge difference to my overall health. Even my hg count is normal and I was always being prescribed iron tablets.
Fourth Covid Vaccine 
The story so far...Part 3!
could I have your opinion on this 
Flare has subsided--now what?
