What can cause bumps from the tanning bed

[mysundaystan]

I've only owned my salon for 7 months. I bought a small 5 bed tanning salon with 2 hair booths as well. The previous two owners really destroyed this salons reputation for various reasons such as bad attitude, not changing the lamps, never being opened etc. Well this first year I expected it to be really bad. Our busy season has begun at it has been great. We were rebuilding our reputation. Old customers returned and new one came in. I have had a few customers come to me about small itchy bumps on some of the surfaces that touch the bed. The bumps usually would disappear overnite. We tried giving the customers that got these a bottle of water to wipe the bed down before tanning at it worked for all of them except one. What could be causing the bumps? She had just purchased a new bottle of lotion? I need help! Now I have a teenager that is going around telling people not to tan with us because she got bumps on her chin and cheeks from us. It's acne. She came in with acne! I know what it's all about. She lied to her mother a few weeks ago about having a tanning appointment. Her mother couldn't reach her on her cell so she called the salon. I told her mother she hadn't been in and doesn't have an appointment. She called back about an hour later for her again and she still had not come in. Apparently she got caught and she is blaming my salon. How do you handle stuff like that??? I don't people like her ruining our reputation.

[EliteMike]

Tell me you are cleaning the beds with more than water?

[brownsuze]

Some people will have a reaction to the sanitizing solution.

I'd recommend either replacing the acrylics (will be a huge boost to your ratings as an owner, the clients will know you're serious) or novusing them really well.

Also have a spray bottle of isopropal alcohol. YOU go spray and wipe the beds before the sensitive clients go in.

Sometimes its not the beds at all, its birth control.

As for what to do about the teen -- ignore it.

[SSmith]

First have teen tanning policy in place, this will fix the problem on the lying to the parents about tanning. And cover you!


Second the little bumps could be heat rash from the heat of the beds,ensure all the cooling fans on the bed are working. Or it is a reaction to the cleaning solution, ensure that you are mixing it correctly, read the jug and ensure your follow the dirrections.

[mysundaystan]

I'm was using Lucasol cleanser and have switched to Cal Clean cleanser. I was thinking it might be an allergic reaction to the cleanser. It has been happening as much since i switched. I mix 2 ounces into a gallon of water. What would the Novus do? The girl that purchased the lotion and is having the bumps said she has her own bed at home but it's not hooked up so she isn't new to tanning beds. She did say she likes our beds better because they seem to be hotter. So it could just simply be a heat rash.

[tuscantan]

i get little bumps when i tan, it's probably just heat rash. especially if they are coming in everyday and not taking a break. or taking a hot shower.

[Bombay Tan]

We use Lucasol as well and never have had a problem. Were they using a "tingle" lotion for the first time by chance? The only time we get a little redness is on occasion when a tingle lotion is applied...

[Rob]

if the acrylics wern't cleaned extremely well after a client used a tingle lotion, it can light up the next client, even though the bed looks completly clean.

it sounds like a heat rash though. is the acrylic surfase quite hot where it touches the skin? you may check to see if all your fans inside the unit are working, they are ment to draw the heat away and if their not working, it will be extremely hot on the acrylics.

[Toasted_Tiki]

I'm in the same situation you are in. Previous owner gave the salon a bad rep. ect. Now it's going well for me also. I have only had 1 customer have a reaction from the cleanser I use for the beds in the 8mo. I have this salon. Make sure that the bed is completely dry before the next customer uses it. I think that's what happened to me. I'm the only one who works here and I was busy. I thought I had wiped the bed completely dry, but I guess not. I do try to pay more attention to that now.

[mysundaystan]

I'd like to think everyone for their input. It's alot to learn in this business and everyday is a new learning experience. Alot of my customers use tingle lotions and some of the customers that i had the problem with were sensitive to tingle. The other girl decided it was a heat rash which is what i thought. She just can't come and tan everyday like she wishes she could. She was using Shiver (a cooling lotion). I've become very conscious of cleansing the beds now. The fans seem to be working properly. The only time i have a problem with the rooms becoming excessively hot is when my staff has the AC on 75 degrees. I turn it back down and simply tell them I pay the power bill and the customers should stay as cool as possible.

[Drew]

Jeez, wrong wrong wrong.

The tiny bumps are called a Heat Rash. Or Prickly Heat.
They are caused from overexposure.

Usually will happen if people go too often like every day.

cut down session times......skip days.....slow down.

NEVER tan someone with itching or small bumps as they can get a whole lot worse quickly...even turning to welts.

Never use lotion to soothe them...ONLY use PURE ALOE or Insurance or Relief(fiji)..and Benedryl helps too.

Keep the area cool...loose clothing. Wait till they are COMPLETELY GONE before tanning again at a much lower session time. It can take a week or more to go away. Often they will scab up on top too...don't worry about that. Just don't do it again.

Some photosensitizing agents will make heat rash happen much more easilly..so beware of antibiotics, perfumes, birth control pills and estrogen supplements.