Last Updated on January 29, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
Look, tanning beds aren’t great for anyone, and they’re especially terrible for scars. I personally don’t recommend you use them, but I’m not your mum and I’m not going to judge you if you’re booking a session before a wedding coming up or some other big occasion. I’m just going to tell you what you need to know because when there are scars involved – from surgery, an injury, acne, whatever – the whole thing gets more complicated. Scar tissue is way more vulnerable to UV damage than normal skin. The question becomes how to actually protect those scars without risking dark splotches that last for years. This article walks through how to protect scars in a tanning bed for anyone doing it anyway, why scar tissue responds to UV so badly, and whether the scar protection methods people swear by actually work:
Why Tanning Beds Damage Scar Tissue
Here’s what nobody mentions at the tanning salon when they’re taking your money. Right now, skin is running this massive repair project. White blood cells are rushing to the incision sites. New blood vessels are forming. Melanocytes (the cells responsible for skin pigmentation) are working overtime trying to coordinate what color all this new tissue should be. They’re already stressed and confused.
Then the tanning bed hits them with UV radiation that’s ten to fifteen times more intense than natural, direct sunlight. Those already-freaked-out melanocytes completely lose it. They start pumping out melanin frantically because that’s their defense mechanism against UV damage. But scar tissue doesn’t have the same structure as normal skin. It doesn’t distribute pigment evenly. So instead of blending in, scars end up with these dark brown or purple patches that stick around for years. And here’s the really annoying part: tanning beds are mostly UVA rays when skin actually needs UVB for that bronze color. Maximum scar damage, minimum actual tan.
Related: A Tan Isn’t Worth Dying For
How UV Exposure Affects Post-Surgical Scars
It genuinely doesn’t matter what type of scars someone’s dealing with. UV exposure messes them up either way.
- Hyperpigmented scars (the dark ones) get even darker and more noticeable. The surrounding skin tans, sure, but the scar darkens faster and more intensely, making it stand out more than before.
- Hypopigmented scars (the light ones) are basically defenseless. They lack melanin protection entirely, so they just burn while everything around them tans. It’s like having a target painted on the scar.
There’s this persistent myth that tanning helps scars “blend in better.” It’s backwards. The rest of the skin darkens while the scar stays weird and patchy, creating more contrast, not less. Talk about further damage!
What’s Actually Happening During Scar Healing
Fresh scars (under six months old) are in serious danger from UV exposure. The body goes through these overlapping phases that are way more complex than anyone explains at the plastic surgeon’s office.
- The inflammatory phase is when the body’s dealing with wound cleanup. White blood cells flood the area. Everything’s swollen and red. The focus is on preventing infection and clearing out damaged tissue.
- The proliferation phase is when new tissue actually forms. New blood vessels grow to feed everything. The body starts laying down collagen in organized patterns. This phase is incredibly active at the cellular level-there’s constant construction happening.
- The remodeling phase can last over a year. The body’s reorganizing collagen fibers, strengthening the scar, and hopefully making it less noticeable over time.
UV radiation during any of these phases permanently changes how scars develop. Research shows it affects collagen production and breakdown, which sounds technical but basically means it sabotages the body’s careful repair work. Scars can end up thinner, weaker, or with discoloration that won’t fade no matter how many treatments are tried later. People with darker skin tone face extra risk here. Melanocytes are naturally more active, which means they overreact to UV even more dramatically. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is way more likely and more severe.
Most Effective Ways to Protect Scars in a Tanning Bed
Look, some people are going to hit the tanning bed regardless of what the research says. If that’s the situation, here’s how to minimize the damage.
Medical Tape
Not regular tape. Medical or athletic tape that actually sticks to skin properly. Cover every millimeter of the scar. For tummy tuck scars running along the pubic bone, that means multiple strips carefully placed. The tape needs to extend beyond the actual scar onto surrounding skin too, because UV can darken the area right around incision sites and create this unfortunate halo effect that makes the appearance of your scar even more obvious. Some people layer silicone gel sheets under the tape. Silicone gel is great for scar healing in general, but it’s not enough UV protection on its own in a tanning bed. The radiation is just too intense. For breast lift or breast augmentation scars, tape placement gets trickier depending on where the incisions are. It might require those big square medical bandages that cover more area and stay put better.
Sunscreen
For scars that can’t be fully covered-facial scars (scars in spots where tape won’t stick) the only option is serious sunscreen. SPF 50 minimum. Broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays. But not just any sunscreen. Mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide work way better than chemical formulas for this purpose. Here’s why: Zinc oxide provides broad UVA-UVB absorption and has anti-inflammatory properties that actually help sensitive skin and healing tissue. Titanium dioxide is particularly effective at blocking UVB rays.
The problem is reapplication. Tanning beds are hot. There’s sweating. Sunscreen breaks down faster in that environment. It needs reapplication every fifteen to twenty minutes, which is honestly ridiculous and should be a sign that maybe this isn’t a good idea. Most people also don’t use nearly enough sunscreen. The effective amount feels like way too much: thick, visible layer that takes forever to rub in. But that’s what’s actually needed for SPF protection to work.
When To Avoid Tanning Beds For Scar Protection
If scars are under three months old, tanning beds are a hard no. Just don’t. The tissue is too fresh, too active, too vulnerable. Between three and six months, it’s still a terrible idea but slightly less catastrophic. The inflammatory phase is mostly done, but proliferation and remodeling are in full swing. After six months, scars are more stable but still not immune to UV damage. They can still darken permanently. They’re still at higher risk for skin cancer in the scarred area compared to normal skin.
Most plastic surgeons say wait a full year before significant sun exposure or tanning beds. That feels like forever when there are summer months and outdoor activities and special events coming up. But consider what’s already been invested – money, recovery time, physical discomfort. Why risk compromising the final result for a tan that could be achieved more safely other ways?
The Alternatives
- Spray tans have gotten so much better in the last few years. A good spray tan delivers natural-looking color with zero UV exposure and zero risk to healing scars. The color comes from DHA (dihydroxyacetone) reacting with amino acids in the skin’s outermost layer. It’s a temporary surface reaction that doesn’t affect healing processes or mess with pigmentation in scar tissue. Spray tans can be done as soon as incisions are fully closed and healed – no waiting period. The technician can also avoid spraying directly on scars if there’s concern about color taking differently on scar tissue versus normal skin. That level of control doesn’t exist with UV tanning.
- Gradual tanning lotions are another option for people who want more control. Apply at home, build color slowly, skip the scarred area entirely or use less product there to keep things even. Fake tans in general are just smarter. Same sun-kissed glow, none of the UV damage, no increased risk of skin cancer, no chance of ruining the appearance of scars that cost thousands of dollars to create through plastic surgery.
- If real tanning is non-negotiable long-term, at least wait until scars are fully mature. That’s a solid year minimum. Give the body time to complete its repair work before exposing those areas to harmful UV rays. The skin’s texture will be more stable, pigmentation more settled, and there’s a much better sense of what the final appearance of the scar actually looks like.
The Bottom Line
There’s no truly effective method to protect scars in a tanning bed that doesn’t involve just skipping the tanning bed entirely. Damage can be minimized with tape, broad-spectrum sunscreen, and careful timing, but healing tissue is still being exposed to intense UV radiation it’s not equipped to handle. The negative effects pile up. Abnormal pigmentation risk. Changes to how scars mature. Increased skin cancer risk in the affected area. These aren’t scare tactics: this is what recent research keeps confirming.
