There are several reasons that a person will begin to develop white spots. One common reason is vitiligo, which is characterized by irregularly shaped white patches of skin, surrounded by dark borders. The white patches are sensitive to UV exposure. 60 Doctors will often use a lotion based form of psoralen (an extremely photosensitizing agent) and induce up to second degree burns on the specific areas. This in effect, reactivates dormant melanocyte cells into producing melanin again. In time the white areas will gradually begin to match the surrounding areas.

Another cause for white spots is a skin fungus known as tinea versicolor. This fungus actually begins in the hair and falls down primarily onto the upper body like dandruff (however, this is not dandruff). The affected areas prevent the skin from tanning and as a result create white spots. Sometimes the spots can be a little scaly. The fungus in tinea versicolor produces an acid that inhibits the production of tyrosinase in your skin's melanocytes, which in turn prevents the production of melanin in the affected areas. Treating tinea versicolor is fairly easy, but recovery may take up to several months. Shampoos like extra strength Selsun Blue are very effective at killing the fungus. Properly cleaned tanning equipment, by the way, will not spread tinea versicolor. If a customer claims he or she contracted this condition in your facility, they most likely had the fungus all along, but only noticed white spots after they started tanning.

The third cause for white spots is caused by how a person lays in the tanning bed. Three areas of the body are affected by how a person lays in the tanning bed: shoulder blades, tail bone area, and the backs of the calves. What happens is that pressure is created on those areas of the body which restricts blood flow. A person needs UVA and UVB in order to tan; however,they also need oxygen (those who sleep in tanning beds often get these white spots). There is a simple way to minimize and even eliminate this condition--have your customers take their right forearm (not their elbow and not the heel of their hand) and the bottom of their right foot and push up gently for a few seconds. This will relieve pressure on the right hand side of their body, allowing their skin to breathe for a few moments. After they have done this, they should lower their right side and raise the left side up the same way.