One of the unfortunate side effects that may come with using a tanning bed is a tanning bed rash. The most common place that people experience tanning bed rash is on their buttocks, and it can often be frustrating and difficult to deal with.
How do you treat and prevent a tanning bed rash on your buttocks? There are a few ways you can treat a tanning bed rash, like not tanning further, using over-the-counter creams, bathing in oatmeal, and using a cold compress. To prevent tanning bed rashes, check the cleanliness of the salon and make sure you are not allergic to any of the tanning lotions used.
So, if you still want to enjoy using a tanning bed, but without a tanning rash on your buttocks, read on to find out what causes it, how to treat it, and how to prevent it from happening again!
What Is A Tanning Bed Rash?
Tanning bed rashes are more common than you think. A tanning bed rash can happen all over the body, but it is typically found in areas that come into contact with the tanning bed, such as the buttocks, elbows, knees, thighs, and belly.
The rash appears as small bumps and red patches in the affected area, and if it becomes more irritated, it could spread further.
Usually, a tanning bed rash feels itchy and inflamed, and in some cases, the rash can be painful. The area will likely feel hot and irritated.
There are a few factors that could cause tanning bed rashes, but it usually presents the same and requires similar treatment.
What Causes Tanning Bed Rash On Buttocks?
A few things can cause a tanning bed rash on your buttocks, but most often it happens when your buttocks come into contact with the tanning bed itself.
Here are the different causes of tanning bed rash on buttocks:
Allergies
You may have allergies to certain lotions used in the tanning bed or sunscreen that you have not used before. There might also be certain chemicals used to clean the tanning bed which cause an allergic reaction on your skin too.
Cleanliness
As you aren’t the only person using the tanning bed, there is a chance that the tanning bed has not been cleaned properly, and your skin is exposed to germs and bacteria, which could also irritate your skin and cause a rash.
Dry Skin
Tanning dries your skin out quite substantially, which is why it is essential to use tanning lotions to keep skin hydrated while tanning. However, sometimes the tanning lotion might not be enough, or you may not have used any, and your skin becomes dry, which could cause a rash.
Skin Sensitivity
Your skin might be reacting negatively to the UV rays, which could be too strong for certain areas, such as your buttocks. Areas of skin that are not tanned often, such as your buttocks, will react more to the UV rays, and this can cause sunburn, irritation, and itchiness.
How To Treat Tanning Bed Rash On Buttocks
As irritating as a tanning rash on your buttocks might be, there are some simple ways to treat it, and hopefully, it will be gone in a few days.
Here are the best ways to treat a tanning bed rash on your buttocks:
Take A Break From Tanning
The first thing you should do when you have a tanning rash is to take a break from tanning. Hopping back into the tanning bed before your rash has healed will only make it worse and cause it to spread more.
Use Over-The-Counter Creams
Speak to your pharmacist about the best over-the-counter creams to use to treat the rash. You might need an antibiotic lotion or a cream designed to treat dry skin. The cream you use will depend on what caused the rash, so it helps to know this first.
Rashes caused by allergies would need an antihistamine, which will help reduce the irritation. Pharmacists have heard and seen it all, so don’t be anxious to tell them about your buttocks rash!
Keep The Area Clean
Try your best to keep the area clean on your buttocks and avoid wearing any tight underwear or tight pants which could rub against the rash or cause you to sweat more.
It might be worth gently cleansing the area twice a day, especially if the skin is dry and flaking. A light bandage might also help keep the area clean and free from irritation.
Use A Cold Compress
A cold compress will feel amazing against hot, irritated skin on your buttocks. Use a cold compress on your buttocks, where the rash is present, for up to 20 minutes, or whatever you feel helps.
Use the compress throughout the day to help reduce discomfort.
Use Aloe Vera
Tanning bed rashes caused by the heat in a tanning bed can be soothed and calmed with aloe vera gel. The aloe vera will also do a great job of hydrating and nourishing your skin following a tanning session.
If the rash is just caused by sensitive skin due to the sunburn from the tanning bed, then aloe vera might be all you need to treat it.
Have An Oatmeal Bath
An oatmeal bath is a great way to soothe large tanning rashes on the buttocks. You simply have to fill up a bathtub with lukewarm water and add in a few cups of oats.
Soak in the bath for around 30 minutes to get the most of the soothing benefits that oatmeal has to offer. You can do this each day until the rash has disappeared, and you can still treat the rash with over-the-counter creams to speed up recovery.
Speak To Your Doctor
If the tanning bed rash does not go away after trying to treat it for some time, then it will be worth speaking to your doctor about any possible treatments.
How To Prevent Tanning Bed Rash On Buttocks
Preventing a tanning bed rash on your buttocks is definitely better than trying to treat one when it happens! If you have had a rash on your buttocks after using a tanning bed before, and don’t want to go through it again, here are some tips on how to prevent it from happening:
Check the Cleanliness
Try to take a better look at the cleanliness of the tanning bed and the salon, just to rule out that a dirty tanning bed is not causing the rash. Don’t be afraid to ask the salon about how often they clean the tanning beds and what they use to clean them – you are a paying customer, and you deserve to know!
Check Tanning Lotion Ingredients
Make sure to check all of the ingredients in the tanning lotion or the sunscreen you are using. There might be some ingredients in there that your skin is sensitive to, or which might cause allergies.
There are some tanning lotion products that are hypoallergenic, and which have been designed for sensitive skin, so it might be worth trying those out.
Use Sunscreen
Your skin might be sensitive to the UV rays in the tanning bed, and this could affect sensitive areas of skin such as your buttocks. To help relieve this area from burning and becoming irritated, but to still allow you to tan, you should use sunscreen.
A low SPF 30 or SPF 15 is enough to protect your skin from irritation, but still help you tan. Make sure to use a sunscreen that is suited to be used in a tanning bed.
Use A Tanning Alternative
Tanning beds might just not be your thing, but this does not mean you have to give up a golden tan. If your skin just does not react well in a tanning bed, then you should look at having a spray tan done or using a self-tanning lotion at home.
Tanning Bed Rash On Buttocks
Dealing with a tanning bed rash on your buttocks is never fun, but hopefully, you will quickly be able to figure out what could be causing the rash, and then treat it straight away.
Take a read through the above to find out the possible causes of a tanning bed rash on the buttocks, the best ways to treat it, and how to prevent it from happening in the first place!
Related Questions
How long does sunbed rash last?
A sunbed rash can last for up to 2 weeks, but it should calm down within a few days. If the rash stays for longer than this, then it is worth speaking to your doctor.
Does aloe vera help soothe tanning bed burns?
Aloe vera is great to use to treat tanning bed burns. It has anti-inflammatory properties and antibacterial properties too, which are great at soothing red, irritated skin. Aloe vera will also help to nourish and hydrate the skin, which is likely dry after spending time in the tanning bed.
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