Can you go tanning in a tanning bed if you are peeling?

Answer 1

A "sun burn" is actually your body's allergic response to too much sun exposure. When you have a sun burn, you should drink plenty of water and keep your skin moisturized with a lotion that does not contain mineral oil, lanolin, or alcohol (and most do, so be sure to check your ingredients!).

Tanning with a sun burn can be very dangerous, and just as ineffective. Melanogenesis is the process in which your body reacts to the sun. During "normal" sun exposure, your skin's melanin production increases as your skin's natural defense against sunburn. Melanocytes produce melanin, which after sun exposure, darkens within about 24-48 hours.

During a sunburn, your skin becomes irritated, and your body sends histamines to the skin's surface creating that ithcing burning sensation (like posion ivy). With excessive exposure, this histamine reaction can trigger blistering because the body sends fluid to the skin to calm the irritation. When the fluid id absorbed into the body, and haven't been well hydrated during the time you were healing, you start to peel.

During this "shedding" process, your skin is new, and hasn't properly developed a defense against sun. Tanning while peeling can cause additional sunburns, blistering, scarring, and even dangerous skin cancers.

Your best bet is to FULLY recover from your burn... avoid sun exposure, stay hydrated, and take care of your skin!

There are lots of great resources for safe tanning. The best advice is to tan smart. Gradually build a tan. Don't be impatient. Keep an open dialogue with your tanning consultants, too. They are there to help and are trained to get you the best tan the safest way.