How Soon Can You Use a Hot Tub After a Tanning Bed?

You just stepped out of a tanning bed and can’t wait to sink into your hot tub. But jumping in too soon can irritate your skin, damage your tan, and leave you frustrated. 

Don’t worry, this guide reveals exactly how long you should wait so you can relax safely without compromising your glow.

• Wait Before Hot Tubbing: Give your skin at least 24 hours after tanning before entering a hot tub to prevent dryness, irritation, and tan fading.
  
  

• Protect Freshly Tanned Skin: Hot water and chlorine can strip natural oils, inflame UV-exposed skin, and accelerate tan loss.
  
  

• Moisturize and Hydrate: Apply moisturizer immediately after tanning and stay hydrated to maintain your skin barrier and comfort.
  
  

• Shower Before and After: Rinse off oils, sweat, or tanning products before hot tub use, and remove chlorine afterward to prevent irritation and patchy fading.
  
  

• Preserve Your Tan: Cooler showers, avoiding prolonged hot soaks, and gentle skincare help keep both natural and artificial tans looking even and long-lasting.

Skin experts caution against jumping straight into a hot tub after a tanning bed session. Freshly tanned skin, whether from UV rays or sunless products, is especially sensitive, and hot water can strip away natural oils, dry it out, and cause the tan to fade faster. 

In the case of natural tans, heat may also intensify existing sun damage and irritation. Hot tubs pose extra risks: 

the high temperature can inflame already stressed skin, while chlorine depletes protective oils and may trigger dryness or even rashes. 

Research also shows that UV-exposed skin becomes more porous, allowing chlorine to penetrate more deeply and worsen irritation. 

Using both tanning beds and hot tubs back-to-back can therefore lead to dehydration, heightened sensitivity, and even heat rash. 

Dermatologists, wellness professionals, and skincare organizations all suggest waiting a few hours before soaking, taking cooler showers instead of hot ones, moisturizing immediately afterward, and staying hydrated. 

These simple steps help preserve your tan, protect your skin barrier, and keep your skin feeling comfortable and healthy.

Skin specialists warn that hopping into a hot tub right after tanning can cause more harm than relaxation. 

Freshly tanned skin is already under stress from UV exposure, which weakens its natural barrier and makes it more sensitive to dryness, redness, and irritation. 

Heat and chlorine only magnify these effects. Experts explain that hot water speeds up trans-epidermal water loss, stripping away natural oils and leaving skin dehydrated and inflamed. 

At the same time, chlorine throws off the skin’s pH balance, drains moisture, and may even trigger contact dermatitis. 

Together, this combination doesn’t just leave skin feeling tight and uncomfortable, it can worsen conditions like eczema or psoriasis and cause your tan to fade faster and unevenly. 

Research also shows that high water temperatures may further damage the fragile outer skin layer after UV exposure, increasing the risk of irritation or even mild burns. 

For healthier skin and a tan that lasts, dermatologists recommend waiting before using a hot tub, opting for lukewarm showers, and moisturizing right after.

Most skincare experts advise waiting at least 24 hours before exposing freshly tanned skin to hot water, including hot tubs. 

Freshly tanned skin, whether from the sun, a tanning bed, or a spray tan, is already more sensitive, and heat or chlorine can make dryness, redness, and irritation worse. 

Hot water itself is well known for causing dehydration; dermatologists often point out that long, hot showers strip away natural oils and leave skin tight, and a hot tub can amplify that effect even more quickly.

The timing also varies depending on the type of tan. For UV tanning, specialists note that your skin typically needs 24–48 hours to recover and allow melanin to fully develop. 

With spray tanning, estheticians emphasize giving the color 8–24 hours to set before rinsing, and ideally a full day before stepping into a hot tub to avoid fading or patchiness.

By giving your skin this buffer, you’re not only protecting its barrier but also helping your tan last longer, keeping your skin both healthy and glowing.

Yes, spending time in a hot tub can definitely shorten the life of both natural and artificial tans. 

A natural sun tan forms in the outer layer of your skin, and because those cells constantly shed, your glow is already temporary. 

Hot water speeds up this process by drying the skin and increasing exfoliation, which means your tan fades faster and often unevenly. 

For self-tanners, the effect can be even more noticeable. Products like spray tans and lotions depend on DHA reacting with the top layer of skin, and when that layer sheds more quickly, so does your color. 

On top of that, hot tub chemicals such as chlorine and bromine strip away natural oils, leaving skin dehydrated and patchy. 

Dermatologists from the American Academy of Dermatology note that dryness and barrier damage accelerate tan loss, while WebMD highlights chlorine’s role in uneven fading. 

A 2022 study in PMC further confirmed that hot water weakens the skin barrier. To keep your glow, moisturize well, stick to cooler showers, and limit long hot soaks.

Showering both before and after a hot tub session can make a big difference for your skin, especially if you’ve recently tanned. 

A quick rinse beforehand helps wash away sweat, oils, sunscreen, or self-tanner that could react with hot water and chemicals, reducing irritation while keeping the water cleaner. 

Experts at Rising Sun Pools & Spas explain that skipping this step allows impurities to build up in the tub, straining filters and even weakening chlorine’s ability to work properly. 

For those with a fresh tan, showering first also lowers the risk of tanning products clashing with hot tub chemicals, which can lead to faster fading or uneven patches.

Once you’re done soaking, dermatologists emphasize the importance of rinsing again to remove chlorine or bromine residue that can strip natural oils and leave skin dry. 

As highlighted by Clearwater Pools & Spas, finishing with a gentle shower and moisturizer not only safeguards your skin’s barrier but also helps preserve your glow. This simple habit protects both your tan and your hot tub’s health.