Can you go to the tanning salon after getting a chemical peel?

Question

I live in Asia & am home for 2 weeks. Want to get my legs tan while in the U.S. I got a mild/med TCA peel & after I washed it my face was very red. I put on high SPF and went shopping, then to the tan salon. I turned off the face/shoulder lamps & covered my face with a towel & clothes immediately. My face was very red/swollen that night & next day. It is day 2, swelling/redness improved but still prominent. Is it the peel or a burn? If it is a burn, what do i do?? I'm kinda panicking!

Shahin Fazilat, MD, FACS · Answer

Cortisone cream will help in the interim, but tanning beds after a TCA peel will likely cause long term damage to the skin. Visit a dermatologist if your symptoms worsen.

Greg Chernoff, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Generally speaking, doctors who take care of skin will dissuade anyone from using a tanning bed. You certainly should not do so if you had a peel. The reaction you had can be treated short term with a low concentration corticosteroid cream.Best wishes.

Thomas Wright, MD · Answer

Both peel and tanning beds can burn your skin.  The stronger the Peel and the stronger the tanning bed or sun exposure the greater the risk.  I recommend strict sun and tanning avoidance and aquaphor.  It should get better with time. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Can you go to the tanning salon after getting a chemical peel?

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Can you go to the tanning salon after getting a chemical peel?

Answers (3)

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