Tanning Lotion – Are They Safe?

We’ve all learned that having a tan is “in”. Most people even view darker skin as looking healthy and sexy. But in reality, having a tan is the result of sun damage. Due to the fact that a tan is considered fashionable, companies over the last few years have scrambled to try and create “safe” tanning lotions that give you the effect of a great looking tan without the damage from the sun. These products are constantly under review from the Federal Drug Administration.

Because of the amount of money that the “tanning” industry has made, the public is beginning to wonder what’s really safe. There’s other types of products available to the general public besides tanning lotions. Take for instance a product know as a bronzer. A bronzer is more of a gel product rather than a lotion; and it claims to look darker once it’s applied to the skin. However, as soon as you wash the skin (especially products such as acne body wash), the bronzer will immediately wash off. There’s other types of products such as “accelerators” which contain natural enzymes. With the cry from the public, the FDA is beginning to investigate these products more and more since many people are finding that these products don’t live up to their hype. There’s even tanning pills you can take, but most aren’t available in the United States. Some tanning pills have been known to cause death.

Another product that’s gained significant market share are self-tanning products and lotions. These products are mostly lotion based and cause the skin to turn brown. While these types of applications have been around for decades, it’s just been in recent years that they’ve become so popular. The chemical used to cause the skin to turn brown is called dihydrnoxyacetone (also called DHA for short). When this is applied directly to the skin, it reacts to the amino acids in the body which creates the color brown. The FDA has approved these products, and they’ve become a great alternative to actual sun exposure since you’re decreasing your risk of skin cancer.
Additional benefits of self-tanning cream is that you can actually choose different shades. This is very helpful especially for people who’s skin is very fare. Be careful of which self tanners you use especially if you’re skin is fare, since you could possibly turn your skin to an orange color, with a whitening effect.

It’s good to pay attention to the actual levels of DHA in all tanning products. Choose a lower amount of DHA for light fared skin, and a higher amount for darker skin. Applying self tanners can be an art in and of itself. If not applied evenly, you can get a two-tone effect on your skin. People with lots of wrinkles also need to be make sure that the product is evenly rubbed in so that it doesn’t “sit” in a wrinkle pocket to avoid streaks and marks.

The FDA has issued a statement saying that the side effects of self tanners are minimal, and rarely have there been reports from individuals complaining about side effects. The complaints that have been reported have been minor allergic reactions.

We recommend following all FDA safety recommendations on all product labels. You may have to try out a couple of different types of tanners to see which one works for you. Just remember that most self-tanners don’t have sun protection. You can always seek the advice from your doctor or dermatologist for a full recommendation on what’s ultimately best for you. While we all want to have a relaxed day by the pool and get that great looking tan, just remember what kind of damage you’re doing to your skin.

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