what is the tan flat little dots on my hand?

[lindsey444]

i am pretty fair skinned and i have been going to a tanning booth for the past about 2 or 3 weeks. i have discovered that i now have darker little flat dots on my hand. what could this possibly be?

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

There are several side effects associated with tanning -

'Sunburn, also called erythema, is one of the most obvious signs of UV exposure and skin damage. Often marked by redness and peeling (usually after a few days), sunburn is a form of short-term skin damage.'

'Sun tan - The increase in skin pigment, called melanin, which causes the tan color change in your skin is a sign of damage.'

'Sometimes referred to as “photoaging,” premature aging is the result of unprotected UV exposure. It takes the form of leathery, wrinkled skin, and dark spots.'

'There are two main types of skin cancer:Melanoma, Non-melanoma'

'Actinic or solar keratoses, is a concern because it can progress into cancer. Actinic keratoses are considered the earliest stage in the development of skin cancer, and are caused by long-term exposure to sunlight. They are the most common pre-malignant skin condition.'

'Photokeratitis can be thought of as a sunburn of the cornea. It is caused by intense UVC/UVB exposure of the eye. Photokeratitis is also called “snow blindness” because many people develop this condition at high altitudes in a snowy environment where the reflections of UVB are high. This condition can also be produced by exposure to intense artificial sources of UVC/UVB, like broken mercury vapor lamps, or certain types of tanning lamps.'

You could read more about this at -

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/tanning/risks.html

It would be advisable to consult your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.

Let us know if you need any other information.

Regards.