Most people who benefit from the use of sunless tanning lotions don't ever stop to think about how they work. After all, they're just glad that they work, providing natural-looking tans without requiring them to go out into the sun. But perhaps you've mused upon the fact that sunless lotions are a really interesting product. And perhaps you've wondered how they do what they do. Do they dye the skin? Are they safe? These are the questions that a few people have wanted to know about sunless tanning lotions.
The answer that these people is looking for is simple. DHA. Okay, maybe it's not that simple, but once you know a little bit about it, the sunless tanning lotion process is easy to understand. Basically, the important ingredient in any sunless tanning lotion that you might use is an ingredient called DHA, short for dihydroxyacetone. This is a natural ingredient (a carbohydrate actually, see there is such a thing as good carbs!). Believe it or not, it's basically a sugar.
Way back in the 1920's, DHA was being used for medical purposes and it was discovered that it turned the skin a darker color than it naturally was. It was then that the idea was sparked that would eventually lead to the creation of sunless tanning lotions. But original plans were derailed and the first sunless tanning lotions (which didn't come out until forty years after that discovery) didn't make good use of DHA. It wasn't until the 1970's that the FDA approved the use of DHA for cosmetics and it wasn't until the 1980's that it became the primary ingredient in sunless tanning lotions.
Okay, so now you know the history of how DHA came to be an important part of sunless tanning lotions but how does it work? Basically, this sugar forms a natural reaction with your skin cells that results in the changing of skin color. Varying amounts of DHA within the sunless tanning lotions will produce varying shades of color because higher concentrations of DHA will have a greater reaction with the skin and create a darker coloring. Because the DHA is only reacting with the outer layers of the skin, the sunless tanning lotion is designed to have a temporary effect. Hence the maintenance that you do to keep the tan looking fresh. So, in a sense, yes - DHA does dye the skin although it does so through a natural chemical reaction. Is that safe? DHA has now been on the FDA's list of approved cosmetics products for over 30 years. The worst thing that your skin is likely to experience as a result of the reaction is a mild tingling or slight irritation. Other than that, the product is considered to be safe. People who have lingering concerns about the effects of UV rays from natural outdoor tanning and indoor salon tanning often find that the use of sunless tanning lotions is a preferable alternative to getting the tan that they desire.
Sunless tanning lotions are a safe and easy for many individuals to develop a natural looking tan. Sunless tanning lotions were first developed in the late 1980's and the products have changed a lot since then. It was once common for many individuals who used a sunless tanning lotion to be walking around with bright orange skin; however, that time is gone. As long as all sunless tanning lotions are properly applied it is highly unlikely that orange skin will develop.
The market for sunless tanning lotions have greatly increased right along side with their popularity. Since millions of individuals all around the world use sunless tanning lotions there are more companies who are developing sunless tanning products in hopes of making a profit off of the tanning craze. Although it may be difficult to select one sunless tanning lotion out of all of the available products it actually works to the benefits of sunless tanning lotion users. Since there are a number of sunless tanning lotions available for purchase it is possible for users to switch lotions if their skin has a bad reaction to a particular product or if they are just unsatisfied with the results.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of using sunless tanning lotions is that users get to keep their health along with their tan. It is hard to understand, but there are still millions of individuals who continue to use tanning beds while knowing that they are dangerous. Tanning beds use ultraviolet radiation that is also found in the sun to give tanners a beautiful tan. Although that tan is beautiful it can also be deadly. Ultraviolet radiation has been known to cause premature aging of the skin and skin cancer in a large number of individuals. Sunless tanning lotions do not contain any ultraviolet radiation; therefore, they are extremely safe to use.
Another benefit to using sunless tanning lotions is that it will not cause users to go broke. Many tanning beds and spray on tanning procedures cost a fairly large amount of money. It is not uncommon for regular tanners to spend up to one hundred dollars a month to use tanning beds. Individuals using professional spray on tanning products are likely to spend even more money. Different products will cost different prices; however, the majority of sunless tanning lotions can be purchased for under twenty dollars. Depending on the size of the bottle most tanning lotions last over a month.
Individuals looking to achieve a natural and beautiful looking tan are encouraged to try sunless tanning lotions. With a wide selection of low cost and safe products there is no reason why more individuals shouldn't be using sunless tanning lotions to get that beautiful tan they had always dreamed of.
Both Baxter Owens & Nicky Pilkington are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Baxter Owens has sinced written about articles on various topics from Beauty Tips, Tanning and Watches Reviews. Baxter Owens is the developer of www.TanTans.com, an ultra premium Sunless Tanning Lotion website & vendor. TanTans.com offers premium tanning lotion at discount, wholesale. Baxter Owens's top article generates over 33100 views. Bookmark Baxter Owens to your Favourites.