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1730786 tn?1310092814

Red Blotchy Spots On Chest After Tanning

Hi all,

So I have tanned before and I have fairly sensitive skin with lots of freckles, but usually after I continue tanning in the bed and slowly building up my time, my skin gets use to the UV rays.  It takes time but I can usually get there. Until now..

It all started a few months ago when I was trying to build up a base tan before summer and after about a week or so of tanning I noticed that I was getting this rash looking thing on my chest. It's itchy, red, blotchy patches, and started inflamed, but faded after a few days.  I wondered what it was, but I was too wrapped up with finals to really do any research about it so I just stopped tanning after the month was up.

Now about a week ago I started tanning again and at first everything was fine. I started with only 6 minutes and built up 1 minute at a time and now I'm at 10. The past 2 times I've come back with my chest itching like crazy and red blotchy patches on my chest ONLY again.  I'm only in town until August before I have to go back to school and just bought the $65 lotion (can you believe this was the on-sale price) so I really want to get the best out of my membership and be looking like a tan goddess if possible.

I looked at other forums to see if I could find the answer to my problem.  I don't think it's from sweat seeping into my pores or anything because the place I go to has really high powered fans in the beds and I'm never sweating when I get out.  Also I think its weird that it happened on my chest only, the part of my body that's not in direct contact with the bed, as I tan with my stomach facing out.

It might be the lotion I use, but when this happened a few months ago, I switched lotions to one without bronzers in it and I still got the red spots.  Also all the other times I tanned BEFORE I got the red spots, about a week ago, I had been using a lotion with bronzers and my skin was fine.

The only medication I'm on is the birth control, Zara.  I was not on birth control when I first began tanning about a year ago, and no bumps occurred. I don't know if there's any connection there. I think I read something about birth control messing up the skin when tanning, but I'm not sure if its true.

Sorry this is a lot of information, but I just want to get the most accurate answer to my question: Why do I get red blotchy spots on my chest after tanning, are there any ways to treat it besides just waiting, taking hot baths and putting non-scented lotion/ aloe-vera on it? And how can I prevent it from happening the next time I tan?


Thanks for the help,
Sarah
4 Responses
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Avatar universal
I had the same problem it is the cleaning solutions that the tanners use to clean the beds. Before going tanning try wiping the beds down top and bottom with baby wipes. This has seemed to help with my rash tremendously. Hope this helps.
Helpful - 0
563773 tn?1374246539
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,
It can be due to pityriasis versicolor. Pityriasis versicolor (Tinea veriscolor) is a fungal infection caused by commensal yeasts in hot and humid conditions. They may be reddish brown, slightly scaly patches or ugly, depigmented areas that will not tan, especially in suntanned skin. They should be differentiated from seborrheic dermatitis and vitiligo. Selenium sulphide lotion can be applied for around 10-15 minutes, rinsed off and re-applied daily for about a week. It is less messy and preferably easy to use than the Selsun and Ketoconazole shampoos which needs to applied on the patches of affected skin after an evening bath, left to dry the whole night and washed off the next morning. For widespread or stubborn infections, itraconazole tablets have shown good results in curative aspects.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.



Helpful - 0
1730786 tn?1310092814
Maybe switching birth controls would help. I'm not sure, I'll probably just have to consult my doctor. I think its so weird though that it only happens on my chest (breast) area.
Thank you for your input. (:
Helpful - 0
1166723 tn?1310233484
im not quite sure what this could be since ive never tanned before but a suggestion im thinking of is just little heat bumps. also.. my sister tans quite a bit and when she was on the pill she did notice she gets these little bumps 2. try talking to a dr again and see what they say! best of luck! :)
Helpful - 0
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