Can sunbeds make your skin patchy?

Author: Ressie Torp  |  Last update: Friday, June 13, 2025

One of the most common skin problems that occur due to tanning is premature skin aging. The UV rays can cause your skin to look leathery, wrinkled, loose, and it creates dark spots. Dermatologists can develop a treatment plan for this, like chemical peels, dermabrasion, and skin fillers.

Can sunbeds make you spotty?

What's more, dry or UV ray-damaged skin can increase the number of dead skin cells, a major contributor to clogged pores. Furthermore, extended and frequent exposure to UV rays may harm the skin's structure, placing additional strain on the immune system and potentially exacerbating acne.

Why does my skin look blotchy when I tan?

That extra melanin is what creates a suntan. But sometimes skin doesn't make melanin evenly. As a result, the skin's coloring, called pigmentation, looks patchy. The sun also can cause small blood vessels to stretch, giving skin a blotchy look.

How to get rid of white patches from sunbeds?

Depending on the cause, a person may be able to get rid of white spots with one of the following treatments:
  1. dermabrasion.
  2. topical steroid cream.
  3. low-dose topical corticosteroid cream.
  4. ultraviolet light treatment.
  5. antifungal shampoos, washes, or soaps.
  6. retinoid cream.

Why do I get white blotchy spots after tanning?

Sun exposure and tanning can lead to white sun spots on the skin. The presence of white sun spots on the skin is clinically known as idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis (IGH). IGH is a benign skin condition considered a cosmetic problem. IGH can affect all skin tones.

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What do sunbed spots look like?

The rash can take many different forms (polymorphic): you may get crops of 2mm to 5mm raised, pink or red spots, but redness may be harder to see on brown and black skin. some people get blisters that turn into larger, dry patches – it looks a bit like eczema.

How to fix a patchy sun tan?

How to fix patchy tan
  1. Gently buff away excess tan. Excess tan often settles onto dry areas, like the elbows, knees, ankles, hands and feet, causing patchiness. ...
  2. Exfoliate the skin. ...
  3. Fill in the gaps. ...
  4. Always use a tanning mitt. ...
  5. Opt for a gradual self tanner.

Why is my skin suddenly blotchy?

Blotchy skin is a change in skin color due to a reaction or condition. Some of the causes, like cold weather exposure, can be avoided. Others, like psoriasis and rosacea, can't. Whatever is causing your skin to break out in blotches, the good news is that the condition is often short-lived.

What does sun damaged skin look like?

Pigmentation changes such as age spots, liver spots (solar lentigines) and freckles. Loss of skin tone (decreased elasticity) Rough, uneven skin texture. Broken capillaries (spider veins), usually around the nose and chest.

What are the bad signs from sunbeds?

Sunbeds give off UV rays that can be to fifteen times stronger than the midday Mediterranean sun. What sunbeds can do is cause your skin to sag and wrinkle.

What not to do after tanning bed?

Avoid using harsh or fragranced products immediately after tanning, as they may further irritate the skin.

Can sunbeds whiten teeth?

A sunbed alone will not whiten your teeth but using a whitening kit while enjoying your tanning session will help to whiten teeth and lift stains. Many sunbed teeth whitening kits contain a gel which you apply directly to your teeth and then insert a mouthguard which will help to expose your teeth to the UV light.

Why is my tan going on patchy?

An equally crucial step in the preparation process is to make sure you hydrate your skin with an oil-free moisturiser after your deep exfoliation. And keep it up! Your gradual tan may go patchy if you let your skin dry out. The best gradual tanning results come from keeping your skin as hydrated as possible.

Why am I tanning unevenly?

Moisturize: Hydrating your skin is crucial for an even tan because dry skin can reflect UV rays, leading to uneven coloration. So, after your exfoliation session, make sure to slather on a good moisturizer.

Can your skin recover from sunbed use?

It's never too late to start protecting your skin from the sun and indoor tanning beds. As soon as you do, your body starts to repair some of the damage caused by the UV rays. And that's a fact. American Academy of Dermatology.

What do leukemia blotches look like?

Leukemia rashes appear as tiny red spots or purple areas that do not fade when pressed; these are caused by low platelet levels and the rupture of very small blood vessels in the skin. These spots are also known as petechiae or purpura, depending on their size.

Can sun cause blotchy skin?

Polymorphous light eruption is a rash caused by sun exposure in people who have developed sensitivity to sunlight. The rash usually appears as tiny, inflamed bumps or slightly raised patches of skin.

Why is my skin purple and blotchy?

Mottled skin causes a bluish-red, lace-like pattern under the skin. Also known as livedo reticularis, this condition happens when deoxygenated blood pools beneath the skin's surface. The condition has many causes, including cold exposure and chronic medical conditions.

How to get rid of blotchy skin from tanning?

Your first course of action to even things out is to exfoliate any darker areas. Exfoliating with a mitt and gentle body scrub will help lift away those dead skin cells that have absorbed a touch too much colour. Additionally, ingredients like glycolic acid are fab at naturally fading your colour.

What is a farmer's tan?

farmer's tan (plural farmer's tans) (idiomatic) The tan line left by clothing, especially by a short-sleeved shirt.

What happens if I put tan over patchy tan?

You'll be able to top up your tan with a fresh new layer once your existing tan shows signs of fading. We'd advise waiting until your colour has completely faded away before stepping back in the booth to ensure even coverage and to give your new tan the best chance to last as long as possible.

Why am I blotchy after sunbed?

A rash called polymorphic light eruption is 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: Too much UV exposure.

Do sunbeds bring out spots?

Although using sunbeds can initially dry out the skin and reduce pimple production, this excessive drying may stimulate the skin to actually produce more oil to compensate. As the sebaceous glands in the skin develop more oil, pores are more likely to become clogged, leading to breakouts later down the line.

What cream is good for sun damaged skin?

Fluorouracil is one of the treatments often used. It kills the abnormal skin cells and fresh normal skin grows back. The brand name for fluorouracil cream is Efudix®. Salicylic acid is another treatment that is sometimes used.

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