White Spots on Skin After Tanning

Basking in the sun is surely a relaxing experience, and to add to that, you might also get the much desired tanned look. Sometimes, people suffering from certain skin diseases are also asked to expose themselves to daylight. Whether you simply love spending time in the bright sunshine or want your body to get a little sunshine vitamin, you must make sure that your skin doesn't get exposed to the harmful ultraviolet rays for a long time. Exposure to sun can cause a wide range of skin problems. You might get blotchy skin from sun. Sometimes, some people end up with white spots on skin after tanning, especially when they use a tanning bed. Here's some information on what causes white spots from tanning and ways to treat these white spots on skin.

White Spots on Skin from Tanning

White sunspots on skin could be attributed to the low levels of melanin pigment. Melanin is a substance which is responsible for imparting color to skin, hair and iris of our eyes. The cells that perform the function of producing melanin are referred to as melanocytes. Since melanin protects our skin from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun, people with low melanin levels are more likely to develop white spots on skin. The areas where the skin cells don't produce adequate amounts of melanin are likely to develop such white spots. Constant exposure to sun since an early age can also affect the ability of melanocytes to produce melanin.

Tinea versicolor is an infection that could also be responsible for the appearance of white spots on the skin after tanning. This is a fungal infection that causes white, red or brown spots on skin. When the skin is affected by tinea versicolor, the sun's rays cannot penetrate the skin, as a result, one ends up with an uneven tan. Prolonged exposure to sun can also cause sunburn which in turn can trigger a skin condition called vitiligo. In case of people suffering from vitiligo, the skin cells are unable to produce enough melanin and this causes formation of white spots or patches on skin. Some people might also develop patches as a result of sun poisoning.

Besides pigmentation disorders or fungal infections, use of certain medications can also make one susceptible. Those who use a tanning bed might also develop white spots due to creation of pressure points on various parts of the body. Tanning beds are devices that emit ultraviolet rays. Many people use these indoor tanning devices to get a bronzed look. While using tanning beds, certain parts of the skin might get pressed against the surface of the tanning bed. One might therefore develop white spots on the skin from tanning beds due to limited flow of blood to these areas.

Treatment of White Spots on Skin

Small white spots or patches on the skin that appear after tanning are mostly indicative of a fungal infection. Though one might be suffering from this infection for some time, fungi on the skin becomes visible only after tanning. Under such circumstances, the treatment generally involves the use of antifungal creams. Though you could use over-the-counter antifungal creams or ointments, it would be better to use medicated creams prescribed by the dermatologist. You must also stop spending too much time outdoors. Put a hold on your tanning sessions for a while. If you have been using the indoor tanning beds, then stop using them too.

White spots that appear due to fungi are likely to develop in people with overactive sweat glands. People who sweat profusely must therefore keep their skin dry and pay attention to the vital aspect of hygiene and skin care. Use good quality skin creams, tanning lotions and other skin care products in future.

This was some information on how one may develop white spots on skin from tanning. Since white spots on skin might be caused due to fungal infections or other skin disorders, these must not be ignored. If you get white spots from tanning, it would be a wise decision to let a dermatologist determine the cause of such spots on skin, and advise related treatment.