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Article Series: Sunless Tanning
Enjoy a Healthy Looking Tan All Year Long
With A Sunless Tan
How
Does A Sunless Tanner Work?
What
happens when you apply
a sunless tanner
or tanning
solution,
be it
a lotion,
crème,
spray, towlette
or other form,
by gently rubbing
the
product into
your outer
skin layer?
Those
that are most effective,
the ones
that list dihydroxyacetone
(DHA), an
isomer of glyceraldehydes,
as an active
ingredient,
according
to the American
Academy of
Dermatology,
begin to
work within around
40 minutes
to an
hour. DHA
is a dull (in
coloring)
sugar important
in the metabolism
of carbohydrates.
It interacts
with the
dead cells located
in the stratum
corneum
or outermost
layer of
the epidermis.
In other
words, DHA reacts
with
amino acids
in the epidermis,
producing
a natural
pigment
called melanoidin
that bonds
with proteins
in skin
cells. And
results are
a change
of
color that
can last
up to about
seven days.
A
couple things
to note here.
First is
that although
melanoidin
is
produced,
and melanoidin
and melanin
(the
dark pigment
that enables
a “sun”
tan
to develop
via UV
exposure)
work together in
the absorption
of
harmful rays,
a self-tan
only
provides
about an
SPF 2, more
or less,
not
high enough
to offer
enough protection.
So
take care
to wear protective
outer garments,
eyewear,
etc. and/or
a sunscreen.
And second,
note that
in general,
sunless tanning products
that
are out on
the
market today
are
reported
to provide
users with
pretty much
“real”
looking tanning
results.
From
just one
application, you can
have a
sunless tan that
can last
all
week. The
chemical
makeup
of the
products versus
where
and how
they interact
with
the different
parts of
your body
can affect
tanning
results;
i.e. some
areas may
demonstrate
different
color
variations
and the
tanning may last
longer.
Then
what?
Where does
the tan
go? Dead
skin
cells rub and
wear
off the epidermis,
resulting
in
the fading
or losing
of the
tan.
In fact, roughly
once
a month
or a
period between
35
to 45
days,
the epidermis
is
rejuvenated.
In
order
to keep
a tan
long-term,
many
companies recommend
that
you reapply
their
sunless and self-tanning
products
approximately
every
three
days. Some
products
last
longer and
wear
better than
others,
too.
So experimenting,
even
with
products that do
not
list
DHA in the
ingredients,
might
prove
to be
rewarding.
Sunless
Bronzers
Sunless
tanning products
come
in
the
form
of
moisturizers
&
powders
are
referred
to
as
bronzers.
Basically
you
apply
these
to
your
skin
as
you
would
make-up
products
for
a
temporary
“tan”
appearance,
similar
to
the
effects
of
applied
make-up
leaving
a
“tint.”
Then
you
simply
wash
the
bronzers
off
with
soap
and
water
and
the
“tan
is
removed
with
washing.
Caution
is
needed
so
that
the
products
do
not
stain
clothing
or
other
fabric.
And
care
needs
to
be
taken
so
that
the
applications
do
not
streak
or
run
when
wet,
similar
to
the
results
of
mascara
running.
And
finally,
make
sure
that
if
you
wear
these
products
outdoors,
they
contain
sunscreen
in
the
ingredients;
otherwise
wear
protective
clothing,
eyewear,
etc.
Sunless
Tanning Booths
Sunless
tanning booths
are becoming
more popular nowadays.
With an
air compressor
and an
airbrush delivery
system in
one of
these booths,
your skin receives
a “tan.”
What happens
is that
the pistons in
the compressor
quickly press
or force
air out
via a
nozzle in
an airbrush
or spray
head. This
air mixes
with a
tanning solution
containing DHA
that’s inside
compartments within
the airbrush,
and sprays
this in
a fine
mist over
your outer
skin layer.
Some tanning
booths have
up to
36 of
these airbrushes
connected to
the compressor
and they
are all
either in
fixed positions
or moving.
Thus tanning
clients
either move
under fixed
sprayers so
that skin
is covered
all over.
Or else
the tanner
parts move
to spray
the different
body parts
and you remain still (these types
pose more
mechanical maintenance
issues though.)
Many
people
report a
more professional-looking,
smooth and
even tan that
covers hard-to-reach
areas like
your back and
shoulders. Note
that the
tanning solution
used in
the machine
probably
has no
sun protection
component; so
if you
are heading
outdoors, protect your skin
appropriately.
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