Described herein are methods for growing light emitting devices under ultra-violet (UV) illumination. A method includes growing a III-nitride n-type layer over a III-nitride p-type layer under UV illumination. Another method includes growing a light emitting device structure on a growth substrate and growing a tunnel junction on the light emitting device structure, where certain layers are grown under UV illumination. Another method includes forming a III-nitride tunnel junction n-type layer over the III-nitride p-type layer to form a tunnel junction light emitting diode. A surface of the III-nitride tunnel junction n-type layer is done under illumination during an initial period and a remainder of the formation is completed absent illumination. The UV light has photon energy higher than the III-nitride p-type layer's band gap energy. The UV illumination inhibits formation of Mg—H complexes within the III-nitride p-type layer resulting from hydrogen present in a deposition chamber.