WHY do I ITCH when I get in the TANNING BED???  Is there anything I can do/or buy to STOP ITCHING & get a TAN?
345182
I used to work in a tanning salon for four years.  You are trying to get a tan way too fast.  You must gradually get a tan.  Right now you are sunburned which means your body is going to get rid of all those cells you just killed and all the tanning you've done has been for nothing.  Buy a tanning lotion that is meant for use in the tanning bed.  One that you use outside is NOT recommended.  It can ruin the acrylic on the tanning bed.  If you can afford a tanning bed lotion, as they can be quite spendy ranging from $15 for the cheap stuff, (where you might as well just use a moisturizer), and up to $45 for the awesome stuff.  Back to your problem... you itch because your skin is dried-out.  You need to give your skin a break and go back to the beginning.  When you start tanning again start with going half of the maximum time allowed in the bed OR LESS.  If you burn the first time go less time the next time.  If you didn't get ANY color don't go anymore than 2-3 minutes more than the last time.  You really must gradually work on your tan in a tanning bed go get the best tan for your money.  BTW, if you decide to go for that lotion I recommend something with a bronzer and without the hot stuff... your tanning salon should know what I'm talking about.  ALSO... if you have very pale skin and have never been able tan outdoors you will not be able to get tan in a tanning bed and is not recommended that you try to do so.  Also, always use those tanning eye covers... you can do severe damage to your eyes without doing so, and over time at the very least you can get uncorrectable night visionn problems.
1032919
Moisturize moisturize moisturize!  Also make sure it's kept reasonably clean.  I had problems with this for YEARS and it caused scarring from inflamation and scratching.  Try some anti itch cream also I don't think it matters whether you use moisturizer and cream at the same time.  Vaseline Intensive Care lotion is very good and economical.  And Lanacane helps with the itch, but generic kinds work too.  Good luck.
802327
hmmm. It sounds like an allergic reaction to UV rays, meaning photo-sensitivity. I'm mildly photosensitive and I get the same kind of rash if I go out with out the SPF50 sunscreen than my doctor recommended. Give up on tanning and talk to your doctor. It sounds like you're photosensitive.
136399
I hear you!  Every time my wife gets one of those scary daggered looks in her eyes and starts complaining about her PMS pains I remind her of my beard shaving and itchin' ordeal!   Sometimes, if I'm lucky enough, I might even get about a couple of hours of mileage (i.e. peace and quiet) out of that comment too!!!    Anyway, as you know, like PMS, beards too are unpredictable and moody, my friend.   In general, they start itchin' once the hair starts to break the skin again, as well as, when it gets long enough for the tips to roll back around and prick and tickle the skin (which could be different from individual to individual, depending on the type of facial hair, etc.)   Of course, if you happen to have a monkey-suite job like I do, and are condemned to shaving everyday, then you might suffer from an altogether different itch too – such as skin irritation and allergic reactions – especially if you have a heavy beard and sensitive skin combination like I do.      Anyhow, here are my recommendations for a softer and less-itchy bread (I already have enough PMS on my hands to worry about, I don’t need any additional itch):\n\n1) Wash your face with warm water and a decent soap that you are not allergic to (preferably an anti-bacterial one IF it does not irritate your skin) prior to shaving;\n2) Use a good shaving gel and work it well into the facial hair prior to shaving;\n3) Use a good triple blade razor like the Gillette Turbo, etc. and replace it as soon as it starts getting dull;\n4) Try to first shave in the direction of the hair growth and not against it;\n5) Once you are done shaving wash you face thoroughly again and/or take a shower.   By the way, shaving in the shower works if you have a nice fog-free mirror, otherwise you might end up looking like Mr. Popcorn Face by the time you patch up the damage!\n6) Always use a fresh towel to dry your face and do not use an “After Shave Lotion and/or Cream” on a freshly-shaved skin; the alcohol and/or chemicals in ‘em will irritate you skin and or clog up your pores.   At least, I have that problem.\n\nIn addition to the above, if you have the luxury of letting your beard grow and are looking for a less itchy one, here’s what I would do:\n\n1) Wash your beard with a high-end/quality shampoo and conditioner combo; \n2) Brush it often so that the tips are not in contact with the skin;\n3) Always keep it trimmed, especially around the cheek bones and below the jaw line.  Wash your face often;\n4) Use a good quality hair/skin cream to moisturize and condition your facial hair and skin;\n5) Bury your head in the sand if you are anywhere near a lady with PMS!!!   [Dive into the ocean, if she starts coming after you with a BIG knife – poor ladies, they really suffer too you know!   :-) ]
477424
If you're planning on cooking yourself in a tanning bed, consider these thoughts first: You might have to wait for dehydration to kill you. I don't know if the tanning bed itself would be enough, being as I am proud of my pasty skin and have no up-close experience with them whatsoever. I don't know if you'd actually cook or anything, but if it was hot enough in there, you'd dehydrate faster than normal. But by the time you die in there, you're not going to look good. You'll be crispy. And that's not cool.\n\nSeek some professional help, buddy.
29166
Aveeno Itch Cream is good..it also has calamine in it too.  I know what your going through...hang in there.
981971
It could just be itchy because you rubbed it on the sheet, or something; as you say, psychological. The consensus seems to be to get it checked, doesn't it? I understand your reluctance. Personally, I would wait until I had to go for something else, & then say 'By the way,...' but that's probably not good advice. \n\nIt's probably OK; problems come from sun damage, don't they? Once you've had it looked at, get a close friend to regularly check it for you! They could take a photo to keep & make sure there are no changes.
1187799
I HAD THIS SAME THING!  ugh, its so annoying, haha.  its probably really dry skin or a harmless fungus.  what i did was use a moisturizer daily and about every other day i put on hydrocortisone (ointment for dry skin) and tolnaftate (an anti-fungal cream).  both of these you can get over the counter at your local pharmacy and are safe and effective to use.  after a month or so i still have some SLIGHT discoloring, but it is not nearly as noticable as it was before and no longer bothers me.  i also got a tan, too, which might have helped!  if this doesn't work, you will probably have to see a doctor or a dermatologist to get a stronger cream or different diagnosis.
56530
I am still working on this one myself- aveno oat meal baths, reguarly use a healing mosturizer (I like curel ultra healing extra strength skin hydrator) the key is to put it on before the itching starts- Ive been told not to use cortizone too much because it thins the skin- benadryl gel can be helpful- store it in the fridge so that its cold when it goes on- sarna anti-itch cream SOMETIMES helps- I also find it helpful sometimes to either apply an ice pack or wrap it in an ace bandage- Ive also been told to "pat dry" when getting out of shower/bath- avoid scratching at all costs- BELIEVE ME I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT THIS IS!!
367187
I have heard several different explanations. Some are more scientific than others. It used to be that some doctors thought itching was actually a slight form of pain, but this is not believed to be the case by most folks today. \nSome believe that irritants landing on the skin cause itching, but itching can also be caused by skin stretching too quickly (which often happens during pregnancy) or is too dry. \nSome people think to remedy skin itching taking zinc or using lotions will ease the symptoms. Others suggest running cold water on itches or hot water on itches. I have also heard of people alternating super hot water to kill the initial itch, and follow it quickly with colder water. Doctors tend to discourage use of hot water, as it dries the skin further and since lack of moisture is one reason to have itching, keeps a vicious cycle going.\nBut all of this does not generally answer what an itch is. Most medical definitions are not helpful in that respect, and it was years before I got any sort of real illumination on this issue. It wasn’t till I took zoology and genetics that one of my professors finally made it clearer.\n I was lead to believe by my professor that it was really mostly a case of a sodium build up around the mylination around your nerves that is overloading your nerve endings in that area. Scratching provides a way to break up the sodium deposit and realign the elemental/mineral concentration to a more normal level. So an itch is a build up or change in the flow of chemicals that surround the nerve sheaths, causing the nerves to react in the skin. \n\nThat said, scratching while nice initially often damages the skin and can lead to cyclical scratch/itch/scratch issues, that further irritate the skin and cause greater damage.
354719
DON'T!  It is much safer to tan with self tanning products.  If you really like to lay out, that is safer than a tanning bed. Make sure to use sunscreen!  The damaging rays in the tanning bed are higher concentrated than the sun's rays.  Tanning beds filter out some of the UV rays(the rays that are responsible for burning your skin) but gives you 3 times the exposure of uva radiation when compared to the sun! UVA rays, or "tanning rays," have long wavelengths that penetrate deep into your skin. They tan your skin, but don't burn you. Overexposure to UVA rays can lead to long-term skin damage. \n Although UVB is the more harmful type of radiation, UVA is linked with immune system damage and malignant melanoma. Melanoma is now the most common and deadliest form of skin cancer in women aged 25-29. Researchers also say that since UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin, they destroy skin fibers and damage elasticity, causing premature aging, wrinkles and leathery skin.\nWhen you're older and your skin is still smooth and supple, you'll be thankful that you avoided tanning beds and slathered on sunscreen with SPF 30! Remember, the best and safest way to get a tan is to fake it - use a self-tanning lotion for your face and body, and apply bronzer to your cheeks and forehead for a warm, summery look.\n  I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU!
229766
I have to use lotion. Without lotion my skin will completely dry out--even if I moisturize. I also don't tan as well without lotion. So, I spend money on the expensive lotion, but I don't have to tan as often, and I don't have to put up with really dry skin. So, for me, it's necessary!
341987
an itch is somewhere in your body that you want to scratch really very much. Itching can be caused due to allergy to certain types of foods, medicine, moquitoes, sunlight or warm weather in general.
875033
I itch all the time. And I've scratched until it bled, and keep scratching after that. It's inside and scratching doesn't really help. I sympathize because itching makes life miserable.\n\nIf the itch is caused from something on the top of the skin (bug bite, irritation, etc.) I use a product call Itch-X. It's the best product for itching I've ever found. If you've already scratched it a bit raw, then it burns and stings like crazy when you put it on, then the itching, burning, stinging stops immediately. Ahhhhh! It's the best product I've ever found. I find it at Walgreens, or you can look it up on the internet and see where they sell it in your area.\n\nIf it itches under the skin and a topical wouldn't help, put an ice pack on it. The cold will stop the itching. I've never had it to fail. Heat will make it itch more, and ice will stop it.\n\nGood luck.
889881
I get an itch dry red rash on my back from tanning beds. Try laying on your side or switch to a stand up bed. Stand up beds are awesome and take 1/2 the time.\nThey wash that plastic and it is supposed to be sterile but I am sure there are oils and residue left behind and that effects people with sensitive skin.
997123
There are many things that can cause itching.  If you live in the south and ramble in the woods or in tall grass, it could be chiggers....a minute little bug that gets on you and bites.  Or one of the poisons...ivy,ect.\n\nIf you have been to a hotel you could have gotten bed bugs.\n\nI would suggest that you and your father see a dermatologist.  This is a skin doctor and help is there!  If the itching is severe, creams with benedryl in them help and so do the benedryl pills.  Just until you can get to a dermatologist!
240244
You could have a pinched nerve in your back causing this problem. The itching can be a side effect. Stop itching and use anti-itch cream like lanacane if you have to. The red marks are from you scratching so hard, you can't feel how hard your scratching and are breaking blood vessels under the skin. I recommend you go see a doctor.