Thursday, April 11, 2013

How Self Tanning Products Can Produce A Bronzed Skin Tone

By Haywood Hunter


Those who want to be seen with a bronzed complexion but don't want to battle skin cancer later on in life go for self tanning products. Using them can cause skin darkening even without exposing yourself to sunlight. If you want to find out how these popular at-home solutions replicate the effect of sunbathing, read on.

You can buy self tanning products in spray, lotion, gel, cream and roll-on forms. Choose something that you won't have trouble applying all over the body. If you want a natural-looking tan, a smooth application is very important.

No matter the type, there is an ingredient that is common among all self tanning products: DHA or dihydroxyacetone. It was in the 70s that this chemical was approved by the Food and Drugs Administration or FDA in the US for use by self tanning products. It's something natural because it is derived from plants like sugar cane and sugar beets. With this fact, you know that the use of self tanning products won't harm your skin unlike staying under the sun.

When DHA in self tanning products comes into contact with skin, the chemical gives the layer of dead cells around a deep brown color. This mimics the reaction of the skin when exposed to the sun, in particular the ultraviolet (UV) radiation it emits. But instead of causing more melanin pigment to form, the skin's topmost layer is simply given some sort of stain.

An initial change in complexion becomes noticeable about 3 to 5 hours after self tanning products with DHA have been applied. If you think that the resulting color is too light, fret not. That's because the ingredient will continue to cause skin darkening overnight. Most of the time, manufacturers instruct users to wait for 24 to 72 hours to see the darkest possible color these solutions can give. It's a good idea to let it show up first before deciding if you need to apply more.

Unlike bronzers that some self tanning products employ to give a temporary change in skin color, DHA won't wash off. Stepping foot in the shower after the at-home solution you applied has provided results won't reverse the effect. However, the resulting bronzed complexion will gradually disappear in about 7 to 10 days. As explained earlier, DHA browns the dead cells on the skin's topmost layer. When they are replaced with a new layer from underneath, naturally the tan color goes away with them.

Self tanning products for the body and face are commonly sold as separate items. Because facial skin is very sensitive, self tanning products designed for it come with milder formulations. Some of them even use herbs to provide anti-aging effects too.

It's important for self tanning products to be applied properly and smoothly to produce a tan that looks so natural. If not, blotches and streaks of colors may reveal to everybody that your lovely complexion is fake. Go through the manufacturer's directions carefully. You may also log on the web and look for tips and tricks shared by people with plenty of experience.




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