It is Sunday evening, the glow from Saturday’s fake tan looks fabulous, and you have just remembered the laser appointment on Wimpole Street later this month. Most people find this page in exactly that moment, with a wedding or a holiday on the horizon, wondering how the two fit together.
The short answer is four weeks. Leave four weeks between fake tan and any light-based treatment, in both directions, and you can enjoy both.
The longer answer depends on which treatment you are having, because fake tan matters a great deal for some and barely at all for others. This page sets out which is which, along with the timings the clinical team at Regents Park Aesthetics works to.
If you are unsure and your appointment is soon, call us before you cancel. The team will look at how much tan is left and what you are booked in for, and find the best way forward.
How long should you wait after fake tan?
Four weeks before any laser or light-based treatment. That includes pigmentation laser, laser resurfacing and IPL. This is the timing that matters most.
Two weeks before a medium-depth peel or resurfacing treatment. Fake tan sits in the outer layer being treated, which affects how the solution penetrates.
Two to three days before microneedling. Enough time for the tan to fade evenly, so your skin is a clean canvas.
No wait for injectables. Anti-wrinkle injections and dermal filler go beneath the skin surface and are unaffected by what is on top of it. Clean skin at the appointment is all that is needed.
No wait for a HydraFacial or a facial. Expect the treatment to lift some of your tan, which is worth knowing before an event.
Why laser and fake tan need space between them
The science behind the rule is fascinating, and it makes the timing easy to remember.
Laser and IPL work by targeting pigment. The device fires energy that is absorbed by the pigment in a hair follicle or a sun spot, converting to heat and treating exactly that target.
Fake tan deposits its own pigment across the entire skin surface. To the laser, that surface pigment looks like a target. Energy meant for the follicle is absorbed at the surface instead, so the gap keeps every pulse travelling to exactly where it should.
Your practitioner also sets the machine’s settings from your natural skin tone, and a clear, tan-free skin lets them read it perfectly and treat the whole area evenly.
That is why the team will happily move an appointment for you, so the laser gives its very best result.
The tan that lingers out of sight
A tan can linger a little longer than the eye suggests.
DHA, the active in almost every self-tanner, reacts with the outer layer of skin and the colour fades as those cells shed. Residual pigment can remain in the skin for two to three weeks after the visible colour has gone, particularly in areas with thicker skin such as knees, elbows and ankles.
That is why the four-week rule exists rather than a two-week one. It accounts for what you cannot see.
Gradual tanning moisturisers are the easiest to overlook, because they feel like everyday body lotion. If your daily body lotion has any tanning element, it counts, and it needs to stop four weeks before laser treatment.
Real sun exposure deserves even more care
Everything above applies to real tan too, and more strictly.
Genuinely tanned skin has more melanin throughout, not just at the surface, so laser waits until it has settled, with extra care on deeper skin tones.
Four weeks after meaningful sun exposure before laser treatment, and daily SPF 50 in between.
Afterwards matters just as much. Treated skin is delicate for weeks after laser, peels and resurfacing, so mineral SPF 50 daily and plenty of shade keep your result clear and even.
This is why we love booking laser courses through autumn and winter, so you arrive at summer with the result already in place.
Can you fake tan after a treatment?
Yes, with the same timings in reverse.
After laser, wait four weeks. Freshly treated skin takes up tan unevenly, so the wait gives you a smooth, streak-free finish.
After microneedling, peels or resurfacing, wait until the skin has fully healed and the barrier has closed. That is a week for microneedling and up to two for a medium peel. Waiting for the skin to settle gives you a calm, even finish.
After injectables, twenty four hours, purely so you are not rubbing the treated area.
If you have an event and the timing feels tight, tell us at booking. Sequencing the treatment and the tan in the right order is usually possible with a fortnight’s notice.
Planning around an event
Working backwards from a wedding or a holiday is the version of this question most people actually have.
Six weeks out Stop all fake tan including gradual tanning moisturiser. This is the point to start if laser is part of the plan. Four weeks out Last laser or resurfacing session. Two to three weeks out Injectables, so swelling has fully settled and any bruise has gone. One week out HydraFacial or a hydrating facial. Not a peel. Three to four days out Fake tan, if you are having it. Applied to skin that has not been treated in the previous week.
The order matters more than the individual timings. Keep peels and facials well clear of the final few days, so your skin is calm, glowing and camera-ready on the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long after fake tan can I have laser treatment?
Four weeks. Fake tan deposits pigment across the skin surface that the laser would absorb, so the gap lets the energy reach its target. It applies to gradual tanning moisturiser too.
Can I fake tan before anti-wrinkle injections?
Yes. Injectables work beneath the skin surface and are unaffected by what is on top. Arrive with clean skin and there is no waiting period.
Can I fake tan after treatment?
Four weeks after laser. After microneedling or a peel, wait until the skin has fully healed, which is a week to a fortnight. After injectables, twenty four hours.
Does gradual tan count as fake tan?
Yes, and it is the easiest one to overlook. If your daily moisturiser has any tanning element it deposits the same pigment, and it needs to stop four weeks before laser.
How do I remove fake tan quickly before an appointment?
Exfoliating mitts, a tan remover and repeated washing help with the visible colour, and time takes care of the pigment that has already reacted within the skin. That is why the four-week rule is about time rather than scrubbing.
Can I have laser if I have a real tan?
Wait four weeks after meaningful sun exposure, with SPF in between, because the melanin sits throughout the skin rather than only on the surface.
Why does my clinic keep asking about sun exposure?
Because it shapes the settings chosen for your skin. It is one of the most useful questions your practitioner can ask.
What if I arrive with fake tan on?
The team will simply rebook your laser for four weeks later, so your skin gets the full benefit of the treatment.
Can I use sunbeds between laser sessions?
Sunbeds count as real ultraviolet exposure, so they are best left until your course is complete.
How long before a holiday should I finish laser?
Four weeks between your last session and any sun exposure, and use SPF 50 throughout. Most patients plan courses through autumn and winter for this reason.