Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsTreatmentRash PrognosisPreventionSeeking Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Treatment
Rash Prognosis
Prevention
Seeking Medical Care
A tanning bed rash may develop within a few hours or days after using a sun bed.
This article covers the cause of a tanning bed rash, what a tanning bed rash looks like, and treatment for a tanning bed rash.
What Causes a Tanning Bed Rash?
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
A rash calledpolymorphic light eruptionis an immune system response to ultraviolet (UV) light exposure from the sun’s rays or artificial UV light. The rash may appear within a few hours or days after exposure.
It can occur for several reasons, such as:
Taking certain medications can make you more prone to tanning bed rash. Ingredients in some medicines can make your skin more sensitive to UV rays. Some of these medications include:
What Are the Symptoms of a Tanning Bed Rash?
Symptoms of a tanning bed rash include:
How to Treat a Tanning Bed Rash at Home
A tanning bed rash can be uncomfortable. A few at-hometreatmentsyou can try to manage your symptoms are:
Avoid sun or tanning bed exposure while you still have the rash. Apply sunscreen with asun protection factor(SPF) of 30 or higher if you must be in the sun.
What’s the Outlook for Someone With a Tanning Bed Rash?
The outlook for a tanning bed rash is usually good. Despite causing discomfort, a tanning bed rash usually clears up in a few days. However, additional sun or UV exposure in the affected area could delay recovery.
Although the rash doesn’t raise the risk for skin cancer, repeated UV exposure can increase your risk.
What to Know About Skin Cancer
How to Prevent a Tanning Bed Rash
The best way to prevent a tanning bed rash is to avoid tanning beds. If you do use a tanning bed, ways to lower your chances of a rash include:
Skip the Tanning BedThe American Academy of Dermatology reports that tanning beds are not safer than sun exposure and can raise the risk of the two most common forms of skin cancer.
Skip the Tanning Bed
The American Academy of Dermatology reports that tanning beds are not safer than sun exposure and can raise the risk of the two most common forms of skin cancer.
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
You should contact a healthcare provider regarding a tanning bed rash if you have:
These symptoms could indicate a potential infection. You should also contact a healthcare provider if you’re concerned about your rash and unsure how to treat it.
Summary
A tanning bed rash occurs from too much UV exposure while using a tanning bed. Symptoms of a tanning bed rash include inflamed, raised bumps and itchiness.
Causes of a tanning bed rash include genetic factors and the use of certain medicines that can make you more sensitive to UV light. Treatment for a tanning bed rash includes cold compresses, aloe vera cream, and anti-itch ointment.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mount Sinai.Polymorphous light eruption.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.The risks of tanning.NHS.Polymorphic light eruption.Mount Sinai.Photodermatitis.Children’s Minnesota.Is tanning making me itch?Skin Cancer Foundation.Photosensitivity and your skin.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Polymorphous light eruption.OSF Healthcare.Heat rash, sun rash—what’s the difference?American Cancer Society.What is UV radiation?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sun safety.American Academy of Dermatology.10 surprising facts about indoor tanning.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mount Sinai.Polymorphous light eruption.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.The risks of tanning.NHS.Polymorphic light eruption.Mount Sinai.Photodermatitis.Children’s Minnesota.Is tanning making me itch?Skin Cancer Foundation.Photosensitivity and your skin.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Polymorphous light eruption.OSF Healthcare.Heat rash, sun rash—what’s the difference?American Cancer Society.What is UV radiation?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sun safety.American Academy of Dermatology.10 surprising facts about indoor tanning.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mount Sinai.Polymorphous light eruption.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.The risks of tanning.NHS.Polymorphic light eruption.Mount Sinai.Photodermatitis.Children’s Minnesota.Is tanning making me itch?Skin Cancer Foundation.Photosensitivity and your skin.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Polymorphous light eruption.OSF Healthcare.Heat rash, sun rash—what’s the difference?American Cancer Society.What is UV radiation?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sun safety.American Academy of Dermatology.10 surprising facts about indoor tanning.
Mount Sinai.Polymorphous light eruption.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.The risks of tanning.
NHS.Polymorphic light eruption.
Mount Sinai.Photodermatitis.
Children’s Minnesota.Is tanning making me itch?
Skin Cancer Foundation.Photosensitivity and your skin.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Polymorphous light eruption.
OSF Healthcare.Heat rash, sun rash—what’s the difference?
American Cancer Society.What is UV radiation?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sun safety.
American Academy of Dermatology.10 surprising facts about indoor tanning.
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