How Long Should You Wait to Shower After Indoor Tanning?

Wait to shower after using a tanning bed.

You May Want to Shower Right Away

If you have used a tanning bed, you probably feel warm and possibly sweaty from the heat of the tanning bed, and greasy or oily from the tanning lotion used. You will probably feel like showering as soon as you get home. If you used a spray tan, you probably smell like chemicals.

You Don't Want to Ruin Your Tan

For tanning beds, experts suggest waiting three to four hours after tanning to shower. "The reason behind this," states Extreme Tanning salon, is that showering too soon can "strip the skin's moisture and necessary oils... If you decide to immediately shower you could cause your skin to dry out causing your tan to be spotty, uneven, or just less impressive overall." With spray tans, wait eight to 12 hours before showering.

Bottom Line

While you may feel like showering after tanning, showering immediately after tanning can be harmful for your skin, if you were in a tanning bed, and can harm your spray tan.

References

• Extreme Tanning: FAQs
• Envy Tan: FAQs