With more and more of us understanding the serious consequences
of sun tanning, we are looking for alternatives. Remember the
first self tanners that hit the shelves many years ago – wella
you became instant carrot orange. Well we’ve come along way
babe! The new sunless tanning products are much more natural
looking than past generations of sunless tanning products.
How do Sunless Tanning Products Work? Your skin is made up of
two main layers: the outer layer called the and the inner layer
called the dermis. In both normal sun tanning and sunless sun
tanning the action occurs in the epidermis level. The deepest
layer of the epidermis is called the stratum basale and this is
the layer that is affected during normal sun tanning. The
stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the epidermis and this
is the layer that is affected by most sunless-tanning products.
In todays market there are several different kinds of
sunless-tanning products available. Since the early 1960s people
have been able to get their tan from a bottle. Coppertone was
the first to hit the market with its Quick Tanning Lotion. What
it is most remembered for is the wonderful carrot orange hue it
produced. There have been many advancements in self tanning
since the early years. Now adays you can purchase tanning pills,
selt tanners, sunless tanners, bronzers, and a host of other
similar type products. You can smooth, swipe or spray on a light
bronze glow or a deep, dark tan. Most of these products take 45
to 60 minutes to work, and then another couple of hours to dry
properly. The most effective sunless or self tanning products
contain the active ingredient DHA [dihydroxyacetone]. DHA is a
colorless sugar that interacts with the dead cells located in
the stratum corneum of the epidermis. As the sugar interacts
with the dead skin cells, the skin changes color. This changes
last from 3 to 7 days, and then you’ll need to reapply. Gels,
lotions or sprays that contain DHA are said to be the most
reliable. There are other very good products on the market as
well, such as tan accelerators that contain the amino acid
tyrosine. Tyrosine stimulates and increases the formation of
melanin, thereby accelerating the tanning process. Currently
there is no scientific data available to support these claims.
Tanning pills contain canthaxanthin, a color additive used in
some foods. Canthaxanthin is approved by the FDA for food use,
but it is not approved the use of it in tanning agents. This is
because when it is used as a color additive very small amounts
are needed, but when used as a tanning agent much larger
quantities are needed. After canthaxanthin is eaten, it is
deposited all over your body, including in your skin, which
turns an orange-brown colour. These types of tanning pills have
been linked to side effects such as hepatitis and canthaxanthin
retinopathy. Canthaxanthin retinopathy is a condition in which
yellow deposits form in the retina of the eye. Bronzers are also
very popular. Bronzers come in the form of powders or
moisturizers. They create an instant tan that can be removed
with soap and water. Bronzers are really a line of make-up,
because they only tint the surface of your skin. If you’re going
to be outdoors make certain to still use your regular sunscreen
protection. Sunless tanning agents do not protect you from the
damaging rays of the sun unless they have UVA and UVB
protection. Even those products that do contain Your sunless tan
will only last as long as the colored skin layer remains intact
on your body, so moisturize, moisturize, and moisturize some
more, because this will slow down the shedding process and
extend the life of your sunless tan. Tanning Mother Natures Way
When you tan, what your melanocytes produce melanin pigment in
reaction to ultraviolet light in sunlight which stimulateds
melanin production. The pigment is able to absorb UV radiation
in sunlight, so it is able to protect the cells from UV damage.
Melanin production is slow and takes a fair bit of time, which
is why people cannot get a sun tan in one day [although there is
a small percentage of the population that can]. What you need to
do is expose yourself to the suns UV rays for a short period of
time for between 4 to 7 days. By doing this your cells will
build up a level of protection. For many races melanin
production is continuous, so the skin is always pigmented to
some degree, so they have a constant protection from UV
radiation. Very low cancer rates are seen in these races.
Melanocytes produces two different pigments: eumelanin which is
brown, and phaeomelanin which is yellow and red. Red-heads
produce more phaeomelanin and less eumelanin, which is why they
don’t tan well.
Sunlight arrives on earth in three forms: infrared (heat),
visible light and ultraviolet. Ultraviolet light is classified
into three categories: UVA which causes tanning, UVB which
damages the skin and causes sunburn, and UVC which is filtered
out by the atmosphere and never reaches earth. 99% of the sun’s
UV radiation at sea level is UVA. UVB is the one the reeks havoc
on our skin causing premature aging, deep wrinkles, and in the
worst cases cancer.
UV radiation is reflected by different surfaces so you can
amplify your exposure depending on the reflective surface. Snow
reflects up to 90% of UV light and has been known to cause snow
blindness and severe sunburn from skiing on a sunny day. Sand
reflects up to 20% of UVB that hits it so you get extra UV
exposure at the beach. The flip to this is that some things
absorb almost all the UV radiation. Glass is a perfect example –
that’s why you don’t burn in your car on a hot day. Sunscreens
use chemicals that have UV-absorbing properties.
Sunburn Caucasian people do not have a natural built in
protection as do many races. So if you are a caucasion with no
tan then your skin is not protected from the UV rays, making you
susceptible to sunburn if you spend too much time in the sun.
Sunburn leaves your skin red and extremely painful, and in
severe cases blisters will appear.
Over the course of several hours, exposed skin turns bright red
and becomes extremely painful when touched. Most times you can
feel the heat radiating from the skin. When you get a sunburn
you have have killed skin cells. The outer epidermis are already
dead skin cells, but just below these cells is a continuous
supply of new cells being created to replenish the top layer of
dead cells. When you sit in the sun you expose yourself to
ultraviolet light which kills cells. The ultraviolet light is
able to reach the layer of living cells in the epidermis and
begins to damage and kill them. Your body knows that cells are
being killed, so your immune system is activated to clean things
up. Blood flow to the area is increased which opens up capillary
walls so that white blood cells can come in and remove the
damaged cells. The increased blood flow makes your skin warm and
red. The nerve endings for pain begin sending signals to your
brain. The damaged cells release chemicals that activate pain
receptors and this is the end result where your sunburn hurts or
is very sensitive. You can avoid sunburn by using a proper
strength sunscreen or pace yourself getting a tan which then
acts as a natural sunscreen created with its own special pigment
cells in the epidermis. When you have a nice tan and go out in
the sun you don’t get burnt, unless your so fair you never tan
in which case you need to use sunscreen all the time Evidence is
now showing that the massive increase in skin cancer is as a
result of sun exposure that occurred, in many cases, over 20
years ago. So take care of your skin by using sunscreen, it’s
the only skin you’ve got for your lifetime.
We all seem to strive for the rich golden color of summer. It
lifts our spirits and makes us feel better all over. Which ever
method you decide to use to get that golden brown skin, use
common sense to achieve your goals and always wear sunscreen
when outside. Your skin will thank you 20 or 30 years from now
when your not all wrinkled like a prune and not undergoing skin
cancer treatments. Take care of your skin, it’s got to las you a
lifetime!