Rash From Indoor Tanning: Causes, Remedies & What to Do

Key takeaways:

• Rash from indoor tanning is a sign that you should stop tanning for a little while, if not altogether.
• Up to 20% of people develop a rash from indoor tanning, typically due to irritation from UV light or chemicals used to clean the machines.
• A rash caused by indoor tanning will typically stop when the tanning stops.

Indoor tanning is associated with multiple health risks, but it remains a popular activity around the globe. 10% of adults and 6.5% of adolescents are estimated to use indoor tanning despite the risks.

While the psychological and physical benefits of indoor tanning are understandable, there is no doubt that it significantly increases the risk of skin cancer and can come with other undesirable side effects. One such consequence is known as tanning bed rash, also known as polymorphous light eruption.

What is a tanning bed rash?

Tanning bed rash usually begins with itching and small red bumps on any area of the skin exposed to the tanning bed.

Tanning beds use ultraviolet (UV) light to tan the skin, but they are also cleaned with chemicals. Either one of these can contribute to tanning bed rash.

Common symptoms of a tanning bed rash

Symptoms from tanning bed rash are usually limited in number and not serious.

Rash

Tanning bed rash can appear anywhere from hours to several days after exposure.

The rash can look like anything from small red bumps to large bullseye-shaped red areas. This can occur anywhere on the body exposed to the tanning bed light.

Itching

Tanning bed rash is almost always accompanied by itching. Sometimes, there is just itching without a rash.

Skin hardening

Continued exposure to the UV light from tanning beds increases your skin’s resistance to the light rays, a process known as hardening.

It usually results in the rash disappearing but causes the thickening of certain layers of the skin. These changes can be irreversible and lead to permanent skin damage.

Blisters

Skin blisters are an uncommon symptom but can indicate that you need to seek medical treatment. Call your doctor if you develop blisters after tanning bed exposure.

Read our full guides on rash symptoms and types of rashes for more.

Common causes of a tanning bed rash

The cause of tanning bed rash is almost always the tanning bed light itself. Exposure to UV light is not healthy for the skin.

UV light

Tanning beds emit UVA rays, which penetrate the skin and damage healthy skin cells. This cell damage is what leads to the itchiness and rash. It is your body’s way of telling you to stop tanning.

Cleaning chemicals

Rarely are patients not experiencing a reaction to the light but to the chemicals used to clean the tanning bed. This is known as contact dermatitis and stops when exposure to the chemicals stops.

Treatment options for a tanning bed rash

The treatment for tanning bed rash is simple: stop tanning.

Stop tanning

Exposure to the UV rays emitted by the tanning bed causes rash and itching.

The light rays damage your healthy skin cells and cause the body to respond with an itchy rash. Once tanning is stopped, the rash will disappear within a few days to weeks.

Steroid creams

If you develop a tanning bed rash and see a doctor, they may prescribe a steroid cream for you to use.

This works by calming down the inflammation in your skin produced by the UV rays. Steroid creams should be used only under the direction of a doctor. Do not use them for long periods, as they can lead to skin damage.

Oral steroids

In rare cases, your doctor may prescribe oral steroids to help with your symptoms. It is important to follow your doctor’s dosing exactly as they prescribe.

How to prevent a tanning bed rash

The best way to prevent a tanning bed rash is to not use tanning beds at all. There are no creams or lotions you can use beforehand to prevent the rash.

The only prevention is completely avoiding tanning beds. There are healthy ways of achieving a tanned look on your skin. These include an airbrush tan or self-tanning gels or lotions.

When you should see a doctor about a rash after indoor tanning

Tanning bed rash is treated by stopping the tanning. There are times when further care is needed.

You should see a doctor if:

• The rash and itching are so severe you cannot complete normal daily tasks.
• Your symptoms continue for more than a week after your last tanning session.

You should go to the emergency room if:

• You develop a fever or chills.
• You develop skin blisters, especially around the mouth or genitals.

Read our full guide on when to worry about a rash for more.

Questions to ask your doctor about a rash from indoor tanning

• How long can I expect this rash to last?
• What can I do to prevent this rash?
• What are some alternatives to using tanning beds?

Frequently asked questions: rashes from indoor tanning

It is common for patients to have questions any time they develop a skin rash. Here, we review some frequently asked questions after a tanning bed rash develops.

How long does a rash from a tanning bed typically last?

Tanning bed rash may last for up to two weeks following your last exposure to the tanning bed.

What if you’re experiencing a tanning bed rash on your face?

In this situation, it is important to contact your doctor as further treatment may be indicated.

What if you’re experiencing a tanning bed rash on your buttocks, feet, or legs?

Any part of the skin exposed to the tanning bed light can develop a tanning bed rash.

Final thoughts

While indoor tanning remains somewhat common among those seeking to improve their skin’s appearance, it comes with numerous health risks. There is no safe amount of exposure to the UV light emitted by tanning beds.

Using a tanning bed before the age of 20 can increase the risk of developing malignant melanoma by 47%. Malignant melanoma is a deadly form of skin cancer responsible for more than 8,000 deaths in the United States every year. Women under the age of 30 are six times more likely to develop melanoma if they tan indoors.

The best way to avoid a tanning bed rash is to never use an indoor tanner. There are healthy alternatives to achieving the desired tanned appearance without the increased risk of skin cancer.

General Medicine follows a strict editorial process, including using real experts to write our articles, vetted primary sources, fact-checking, a secondary medical review, and updates as necessary. This article was medically reviewed and fact checked by Dr. Lane Thaut, DO.

Sources

American Academy of Dermatology Association. “Indoor Tanning.” Www.aad.org, 21 June 2022, www.aad.org/media/stats-indoor-tanning.

‌“_EducationMaterialsFrame.” Children’s Minnesota, 26 Sept. 2016, www.childrensmn.org/educationmaterials/teens/article/11683/is-tanning-making-me-itch/.Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.

“Polymorphic Light Eruption.” Nhs.uk, 24 Oct. 2017, www.nhs.uk/conditions/polymorphic-light-eruption/.

Pastore, S., et al. "Polymorphic light eruption occurs in 18% of Europeans and does not show higher prevalence with increasing latitude: multicenter survey of 6,895 individuals residing from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia." J Biol Chem 278 (2001): 26120-6.

Dover, J S, and J L Hawk. “Polymorphic light eruption sine eruption.” The British journal of dermatology vol. 118,1 (1988): 73-6. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.1988.tb01752.x

“Indoor Tanning 101: Do You Know the Risks?” The Skin Cancer Foundation, 14 June 2021, www.skincancer.org/blog/indoor-tanning-101-do-you-know-the-risks/.

Usatine, Richard P., and Marcela Riojas. “Diagnosis and Management of Contact Dermatitis.” American Family Physician, vol. 82, no. 3, 1 Aug. 2010, pp. 249–255, www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2010/0801/p249.html.

NHS . “Topical Corticosteroids.” NHS, 2019, www.nhs.uk/conditions/topical-steroids/.

Oakley, Amanda M., and Michael L. Ramsey. “Polymorphic Light Eruption.” PubMed, StatPearls Publishing, 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430886/.

Patel, D. C., et al. "Efficacy of short‐course oral prednisolone in polymorphic light eruption: a randomized controlled trial." British Journal of Dermatology 143.4 (2000): 828-831, https://academic.oup.com/bjd/article-abstract/143/4/828/6688194.

American Cancer Society. “Melanoma Skin Cancer Statistics.” Www.cancer.org, 12 Jan. 2023, www.cancer.org/cancer/types/melanoma-skin-cancer/about/key-statistics.html.