Tuesday, February 26, 2013

How Dark Self Tanners Function

By Susan Jumonville


Dark self turners refer to equipment or products used to tan skin or make its color darker. Dark self tanners or the sun produce the ultraviolet radiation that is used to achieve this effect. Windburn or reflected light may also produce the same effect if one is exposed to them for a long time.

Dark self tanning may occur unintentionally or intentionally. Individuals who do it deliberately may use chemical products or engage in sun bathing. Unintentional exposure to sun rays for long may present some adverse consequences although there are a few benefits. The advantage is that when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation, it synthesizes Vitamin D. Overindulgence in sun bathing may cause skin cancer, sunburn, a higher risk of aging, and depressed functioning of the immune system.

Dark self tanners come in various sizes, shapes, and colors. They are made of metals such as aluminum, iron, stainless steel, or their alloys. They are cylindrical in shape to form a cavity inside which a person lies. Dark self tanners also have leads which comprise UV sources. Once a person lies inside, the UV sources are turned on to illuminate their body. The sizes of dark self tanners are meant to fit that of an adult human being.

Dark self tanners have predetermined intensity settings and time brackets, which one should stay inside. Beyond that bracket of intensity or time, the rays become unsafe for human skins. Tanning differs among people, with others taking shorter periods whereas others take too much time. The ease of tanning of someone is dependent on genetic characteristics like skin type and color.

There are two major manners in which dark self tanners affect skin color. Ultraviolet beams generated by dark self tanners are categorized into UV-B or UV-A. Both variants lead to melanogenesis, the process through which melanocytes form melanin pigments. Melanin are of 2 kinds, the red one referred to as pheomelanini and the brown one known as eumelanin.

The job of melanin is to take in solar radiation therefore protecting body organs. Excess solar rays can cause indirect or direct damage to DNA strings. The body counters these damages by generating and emitting more melanin into skin cells. This increased generation of melanin is primarily triggered by UV-B beams due to direct or indirect photodamage. The tan that results due to this activity is darker and stays longer but only becomes noticeable after seventy two hours of exposure.

UVA also results in generation of a tan. Here, UVA causes oxidative stress that leads to oxidation of melanin that already exists. When melanin gets oxidized, it changes color to dark brown. UVA emitted by the natural sun or self tanners also redistributes the existing melanin even though its quantity does not change. This makes oxidized melanin less competent in protecting the body from ultraviolet destruction than UVB. Dark self tanners have many uses in fashion industry. Models apply them to tan their skins prior to engaging in beauty contests.

Dark self tanners are costly equipment. They need proper handling and care for them to stay long. If good care is given to dark self tanners, they can stay for several years.




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