4 Ways to Take Care of Your Skin After Using a Tanning Bed (2024)

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Co-authored byMargareth Pierre-Louis, MD

Last Updated: September 2, 2023References

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   Consider skipping a shower. It’s not because you need to worry about “washing away” your tan. The melanin production stimulated by UVA light won’t be stopped by a shower. Rather, studies show that showering and then applying moisturizer does not hydrate your skin as well as applying moisturizer alone.^[2] If you do shower, be sure to:^[3]

   • Take a cold or warm shower, not a hot one.
   • Limit your shower time. Showering too long will remove oils from your skin.
   • Avoid soap, or only apply it to the "smelly" places, such as your groin, armpits, and feet. Soap will strip the oil from your skin.
   • Pat dry so that some moisture remains on your skin.
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   Use a product with hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally produced chemical that helps to bind and retain water molecules at the skin.^[4] Cosmetics containing hyaluronic acid have been shown to improve skin hydration and elasticity.^[5] Rub a cream with the compound into your skin before applying moisturizer. If you shower, apply the cream immediately afterwards.

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   Apply moisturizer. Moisturizers help to replace the thin layer of lipids that protects your skin from water loss. Any moisturizer will do, but consider using one with liposomes containing vitamin A for skin health. If you do shower, apply moisturizer immediately afterward.^[6]

   • Use a non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores) moisturizer if you are prone to breakouts.

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1. See Also

   Best Time to Tan? Precautions and Tips for Reducing RisksEverything You Need to Know for Tanning Your Legs FastStand Up VS Lay Down Sunbeds — The Glow Club3 Benefits Of Using A Tanning Lotion | The Tanning Shop Blog

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   Hydrate. Skin is made up of cells, and all cells need water. If your skin doesn’t get enough, it will be dry, tight, and flaky. Indeed, one of the main reasons skin ages is that it loses its ability to retain moisture.^[7] Drinking at least eight 8-oz glasses of water a day typically ensures that your skin is getting enough water, but because tanning can dehydrate you, you’ll want to drink even more water on days when you tan.^[8]

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   Eat dark chocolate. Cocoa both hydrates your skin and contains flavonols, a powerful type of antioxidant. Antioxidants limit the damage from free radicals that form when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet light.^[9]

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   Consume fruits high in polyphenols. Grapes, apples, pears, cherries, and berries all contain high levels of polyphenols, which have both antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic properties that help them protect your skin from the UV radiation of tanning beds.^[10]

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   Drink pomegranate juice or eat a pomegranate. Pomegranates contain flavonoids that have been shown to have a wide variety of health effects, including acting as an antioxidant that protects skin and helping to prevent cancer.^[11]

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   Cook pasta with tomato sauce or order pizza. Tomatoes contain lycopene, a chemical that has been shown to help protect skin from ultraviolet radiation damage.^[12] Tomato paste contains the most, meaning tomato sauces or even pizza can be a rich source.

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   Munch on sunflower seeds.^[13] They are packed with vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect the skin from damage caused by UV light.^[14]

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   Brew some green tea. It contains polyphenols with antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic properties, thus helping to protect your skin from the damage caused by UV light.^[15]

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   Know that you can burn from tanning too long. Tanning beds emit UVA radiation, just like the sun, and if you stay in them too long you can get burned. The fairer your skin, the less time it will take to burn.

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   Treat the burn as soon as you notice it. The faster you start treatment, the less damage the burn will do. If your skin feels tingly or itchy, or if it is pink or reddish, you should start treating it right away.^[16]

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   Drink lots of water. Burns draw water to your skin, dehydrating the rest of you. You’ll always want to drink extra water after tanning, but if you have burned, you’ll want to drink as much water as you can stomach to promote healing and keep you hydrated.^[17]

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   Put a cold damp towel on your skin or take a cold shower or bath. Do this for 10 or 15 minutes several times a day to take the heat out of your skin and offer relief. If taking a bath or shower, pat yourself dry and leave some water on your skin. Apply moisturizer immediately.^[18]

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   Use moisturizer frequently. Moisturizers with aloe vera are particularly soothing for burned skin,^[19] and you may also want to consider products with Vitamin C and E, which may help to limit the damage to your skin.^[20] Do not use moisturizers that contain petroleum, which will trap the heat in your skin. Also avoid benzocaine and lidocaine, which can irritate your skin. Do not apply moisturizers to blistering skin.

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   Apply hydrocortisone cream to particularly uncomfortable areas. You can buy hydrocortisone over-the-counter, and it will help to ease painful burning or itching. Do not apply hydrocortisone to blistering skin.

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   Take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) will both reduce pain and swelling, helping to prevent long-term damage to the skin.^[21] Adults may also use aspirin, but never give it to children, as it can cause sudden acute brain and liver damage.^[22]

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   Leave blisters alone or cover them with dry bandages. Blisters indicate that you have a second degree burn. Do not put moisturizer on them or pop them, as this will make your sunburn worse.^[23] Leave them alone until they heal, or consider covering them with a dry bandage to prevent chafing against your clothing.

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   Protect yourself when you go outside. The last thing you want to do is to expose your burned skin to more sun. Keep your time outside to a minimum, and when you do go out, cover all burned areas with clothes made of tightly-woven fabric (when you hold them up to a bright light, no light should shine through). If you have a burn on your face, apply a moisturizer that doubles as sunscreen.^[24]

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   Know the causes of tanning bed rash. Your skin may become itchy or develop bumps after using a tanning bed for a variety of reasons:^[25]

   • Your skin has become overheated from the tanning bed.
   • You are suffering from polymorphous light eruption, which causes red bumps to appear on the skin after exposure to UV light.
   • You are having a reaction to the products used to clean the tanning bed.
   • You may be sensitive to the “tan-accelerating” lotion you use while tanning.
   • You may be taking a medication (such as birth control, acne medication, or even Advil) that makes your skin more sensitive to UV light.
   • You may have a skin infection from a poorly cleaned bed.
2. See Also

   Keep your body hydrated when you tan at Joplin’s Tropical Tan

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   See a doctor if your rash is warm and tender or accompanied by a fever.^[26] Poorly cleaned tanning beds can contain bacteria and viruses that lead to infections requiring medical treatment.^[27]

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   Consult with your doctor about any medications you are taking. You will want to be sure that the drugs you are taking are not making your skin more sensitive to light before returning to the tanning salon.

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   Stop tanning and see if the rash goes away. If it does not, you should see a doctor. If it does, you can return to the tanning salon and try to determine and eliminate the cause of the rash.^[28]

   • Apply a small, diluted amount of the cleaner used by the tanning salon to a tiny patch of your skin to see if a rash forms.
   • Next, try tanning without the tan-accelerating lotion to see if it was the cause.
   • Finally, try tanning for shorter amounts of time, which should eliminate the possibility of heat rash.
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   Consider other tanning methods if the rash persists. If you continue to develop rashes after tanning, you may be experiencing polymorphous light eruption or might even have developed a UV allergy. Talk to your doctor, and be sure to wear sunscreen when outdoors.^[29] Discontinue the use of tanning beds and consider using tanning lotions instead if you want a bronzed look.

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