Tanning Spots

[shelley]

I posted a question last week about white spots possibly from tanning in a tanning bed but some of my questions were not answered.  I will try again.  After tanning for about a month, I noticed small round white spots on my stomach, back, parts of my upper arms and inner thighs and on my rear end.  I was told it might be either (a) a skin fungus or (b) that is just the way my skin develops after tanning and possibly a lack of skin pigment.
I tried Selsun Blue, I researched it and that is what everyone is saying to use.  I have tanned in the past either by tanning bed or by laying out in the direct sun light and have never experienced such "Spots".  But, I have been tanning in a tanning bed more often than in the past.  About three times a week for 20 minutes with tanning excelerator with nutmeg as in ingredient.

1. Can I still tan in a tanning bed; will it make the spots worse  and spread and more noticible?
2. Will Selsun Blue really make my skin turn back to normal.
3. What else can I try?

I am a somewhat dark complected white female.  Please help! Shelley

[kc]

You all have different diagnosis', the tiny white spots on your arms & legs are waaay diff, forget what it's called, but, it has to do w/ circulation, much diff. from the ones you think you are getting from a tanning bed.  The large white spots that are mainly on your upper arms shoulders back & abdomen is a fungus...it is Tinea Versicolor (sp.??), It is not caused from sun or the tanning bed.  There is no known cause.  There is also a pill that you can take for like a week...nizoral or something in the line of that....and it should go away.  Annnnd, you are supposed to go in the sun after taking the antifungal medication to make the white spots repigment...just remember to wear sunscreen!!!  (See a doctor)!!  kc

[SHAWN FARMER]

I HAVE WHITE SPOTS THAT COME FROM THE TANNING BED.
WHAT CAN I DO TO GET RID OF THEM. THEY ARE ALL OVER MY STOMACH,
BACK, BOTTOM, ARMS, AND THIGHS. WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST?

[SHAWN FARMER]

I have tanning bed spots. They are all over my stomach, back,upper arms, inner thighs. They are getting worst to me.
I heard about this Selsun Blue Shampoo that I could use. Does it work and how long does it take to see a result? Also, if I tan again are they going to keep coming back?

[Tara]

I also have the spots! Got them from the tanning bed. My sister also got the spot for the same place.Body Drench makes a gel for this problem it is called SUN SPOTS. NOT always easy to find!I would like to know if you can use LYSOL wipes on the beds or will it hurt the bed?

[Shelley, to Diane Williams]

Hello all that replied.  Thank you for your comments.  However, I have not received these "white round spots" since I started tanning in a tanning bed.  After about a month and a half of tanning did I get these spots.  I have not been back since.  The spots have begun to fad and I only notice them now on my inner thighs and shoulder blades and not on my stomach any more.  So, it seems as though my skin is getting back to normal.  I tanned outside all the time and never got these little round white spots until after a month of tanning in a tanning bed.  I don't think it might be skin pigment because I have always tanned evenly when tanning outside in the natural sun.  It might be a fungus, but like I said, the spots are almost gone after about two months. I have heard it is a skin fungus, pressure points, skin pigment, and the tanning salon owner said he used to get them all the time because he was tanning so much but used Head and Shoulders and it went away and he slowed down on tanning.  If any one hears anything else...please let me know and thanks again for all the comments, its been helpful!

Symptoms:  white round spots on upper arms and inner thighs, back, bottom and stomach area.  When sweaty, the spots are very itchy.  Noticed them about a month and a half after tanning for 3 days a week for 20 minutes a session.

[Cheryl]

I, too used to be an avid tanner and would get tan patches.  Once on my chest and another time aound my mouth or tan moustache as someone else put it.  It turns out that birth control can cause white patches and darker patches.  I didn't want to give up my pills so I gave up the sun.