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Are Self Tanning Lotions Safe
Question of the Day: Are Self Tanning Lotions Safe?
The new breed of self tanning lotions are far more
advanced than the old QT lotion which was first
developed and released in 1960. The speed and efficiency
with which the new self tanning lotions work, as well as
the way they work, has led some to ask “Are self tanning
lotions safe?” In order to answer that question we’ll
need to take a look at what exactly we mean by “self
tanning lotions” since there are several kinds and the
ways in which the different kinds work.
Bronzers
A bronzer is little more than a “skin stain.” Sold in
powder and moisturizer form, bronzers are applied in
minutes and give a tanned appearance immediately. The
tan from a bronzer is as true a definition of a “fake
tan” as you can get since it can later be washed off in
soap and water. Wile the appearance is still far more
realistic than the old QT product; the tan from a
bronzer is probably not going to cause any concern to
those asking are self tanning lotions safe. Bronzers are
perfectly safe and are a good choice for those who are
looking to pour on a temporary tan.
Self Tanning Lotions
The American Academy of Dermatology states that the most
effective self-tanning products on the market are the
ones that contain dihydroxyacetone (DHA) as the active
ingredient. DHA is a sugar which interacts with the dead
skin cells of the outer layer of skin. The sugar
interacting with the dead cells causes a chemical
reaction which results in the color change. The color
change creates the tanned appearance and usually lasts
up to seven days before fading. Because the “tan” lasts
so long and can not be removed, people ask “are sunless
tanning lotions safe?”
There is no evidence to suggest that the chemical
reaction created by the sunless tanning lotion is
unsafe. Are sunless tanning lotions safe? The short
answer seems to be “yes.” Because the self tanners are
reacting with dead skin cells that will wear away from
the body in a few days anyway, the self tanning lotion
is very safe. It is this wearing away of dead skin cells
that causes the tan to fade, a simply natural part of
the biological process of skin rejuvenation.
Tanning Pills
When asking are sunless tanning lotions safe, it is
worthwhile to look at the impact of tanning pills.
Tanning pills contain a substance called canthaxanthin,
which is generally used as a food additive – for color.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of
canthaxanthin as a food coloring additive, but not as a
tanning agent. The substance has been linked to a number
of health related side effects including hepatitis and
canthaxanthin retinopathy, a condition that results in
yellow deposits appearing in the retinas.
Sunless tanning lotions appear to be a relatively safe
way to get a tanned appearance, perhaps safer than
actual tanning when the risks of skin cancer are taken
into account. Tanning pills? Maybe not so much.
About the Author
Abe Gardea is a full-time freelance writer and a
contributor to http://tanning-beds-n-tanning-lotions.com.
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