Wednesday, February 27, 2013

By Haywood Hunter


People who want to sport a sun-kissed complexion without exposing themselves to harmful ultraviolet (UV) light may go for the use of a self tanning body lotion. Just like what the name says, it's a topically applied product which causes the skin to darken on its own. It's just one of the numerous at-home solutions for those who like to tan without risking their health.

Staying under the sun or inside a tanning bed speeds up melanin formation to cause the skin's darkening. This type of pigment actually serves to protect the body from harm. On the contrary, using the self tanning body lotion does not promote the production of more melanin. The active ingredient simply reproduces the color of skin that has plenty of it.

Basically, a self tanning body lotion is available in two forms. One of them produces skin darkening a few hours after application. The tanned effect may last for up to 10 days until it disappears entirely. The other can give you a deeper complexion in a snap. However, the product is easily removed with water so a re-application is necessary to maintain your tan.

When buying that self tanning body lotion whose darkening effect may be enjoyed for several days, you are likely to come across DHA in the list of ingredients. Short for dihydroxyacetone, this chemical is something that's usually extracted from plants such as sugar cane or sugar beets. Back in 1977, it was approved by the US FDA as safe for application on the skin.

When DHA in the self tanning body lotion comes into contact with the dead skin cells' amino acids during application, a reaction takes place. A brown coloration is produced in about 3 hours after the application. This will further darken in the next 24-72 hours. The effects of a self tanning body lotion last for about 10 days because the skin sloughs off gradually.

The substance administered inside a spray booth also uses DHA as its main ingredient. However, take note that this chemical is US FDA-approved for topical application. Someone in a spray booth may inhale a few of it, and this may lead to some health issues. It's for this reason why many experts say that using a self tanning body lotion is a safer solution.

You may choose to go for a self tanning body lotion that can give you a darker complexion right away. Making this possible is the bronzers used as one of the main ingredients. Basically, they leave your skin stained to make it look like it has more melanin than usual. However, because bronzers are washed off easily with water, the tan produced is a temporary one.

Whether you want a self tanning body lotion that contains DHA or something that relies on bronzers, it's important to choose the best product. Not all of these topical solutions are cut from the same cloth. Reading reviews on the internet is a good idea before you purchase one. Going for the best self tanning body lotion around lets you have a natural looking tan.




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