Sunless Tanning Products: How Do They Work?
Sunless tanning products or self-tanners are the products which will give you a tanned look without exposing your skin to harmful radiations.
Sunless tanning products are available in various forms like creams, lotions, pills, sprays and bronzers.
It is very important to note that these products can only give you a tan look; but it cannot protect you from the harmful effects of the UV radiations which you may be exposed to by going outdoors.
Hence, it is highly recommended to use sun screen lotion while going outdoors.
In this article, we will discuss how Sunless tanning products work.
It is a well-known fact that skin is made of two layers: Epidermis (the outer layer) and Dermis (the inner layer).
Epidermis in turn consists of basal layer and horny layer.
These tanning lotions and sprays work on the horny layer or stratum corneum of Epidermis and give you a golden glow.
According to American Academy of Dermatology, sunless tanning lotions and sprays contain DHA or dihydroxyacetone as an active ingredient which upon reaction with the dead cells present in the stratum corneum, color of the skin changes to golden.
In most of the cases, the effects will lasts only up to 7 days of application of lotions and sprays.
Hence, lotions and sprays should be re-applied once in every three days so as to maintain the golden glow.
Another tanning product called 'Tanning accelator' consists of Tyrosine, an amino acid which claims to increase the Melanin formation and accelerates the tanning process.
However, there is no scientific data which supports these claims.
Another sunless tanning product called tanning pills contains canthaxanthin as an active ingredient.
Canthaxanthin is the most commonly used coloring agent used in foods.
Inclusion of Canthaxanthine in minute concentrations is approved by FDA in food items, but pills contain high concentrations of Canthaxanthine which upon administration gets deposited throughout the body including skin and changes the color of the skin to orange-brown.
Another popular sunless tanning product called 'Bronzer' produces immediate effect which will go off upon washing with soap and water.
Hence they are used along with other cosmetics.
It is available as powders, creams and lotions.
Skin is exposed to lot of wear and tear; hence it regenerates once in every 35-45 days.
Along with the outer layer, any natural or added pigments will also be sloughed away.
Hence all the sunless tanning products are recommended to be re-applied periodically so as to maintain the tan.
Sunless tanning products are available in various forms like creams, lotions, pills, sprays and bronzers.
It is very important to note that these products can only give you a tan look; but it cannot protect you from the harmful effects of the UV radiations which you may be exposed to by going outdoors.
Hence, it is highly recommended to use sun screen lotion while going outdoors.
In this article, we will discuss how Sunless tanning products work.
It is a well-known fact that skin is made of two layers: Epidermis (the outer layer) and Dermis (the inner layer).
Epidermis in turn consists of basal layer and horny layer.
These tanning lotions and sprays work on the horny layer or stratum corneum of Epidermis and give you a golden glow.
According to American Academy of Dermatology, sunless tanning lotions and sprays contain DHA or dihydroxyacetone as an active ingredient which upon reaction with the dead cells present in the stratum corneum, color of the skin changes to golden.
In most of the cases, the effects will lasts only up to 7 days of application of lotions and sprays.
Hence, lotions and sprays should be re-applied once in every three days so as to maintain the golden glow.
Another tanning product called 'Tanning accelator' consists of Tyrosine, an amino acid which claims to increase the Melanin formation and accelerates the tanning process.
However, there is no scientific data which supports these claims.
Another sunless tanning product called tanning pills contains canthaxanthin as an active ingredient.
Canthaxanthin is the most commonly used coloring agent used in foods.
Inclusion of Canthaxanthine in minute concentrations is approved by FDA in food items, but pills contain high concentrations of Canthaxanthine which upon administration gets deposited throughout the body including skin and changes the color of the skin to orange-brown.
Another popular sunless tanning product called 'Bronzer' produces immediate effect which will go off upon washing with soap and water.
Hence they are used along with other cosmetics.
It is available as powders, creams and lotions.
Skin is exposed to lot of wear and tear; hence it regenerates once in every 35-45 days.
Along with the outer layer, any natural or added pigments will also be sloughed away.
Hence all the sunless tanning products are recommended to be re-applied periodically so as to maintain the tan.