Sunless Instant Tanning Products

The various forms of sunless tanning products in the market today come in selections beyond tanning lotions and sprays. The problem is that the side effects of some of these products may be dangerous or little understood. It is important for any user to really be aware of the potential risk and stay on the cautious side when picking products.

There are many dangerous products and one of the more popular among these is known as a tanning pill. These pills are manufacturers with high concentrations of a chemical common used in food coloring. However, although the chemical is FDA approved to be used in trace amounts for food coloring, it is not approved to be used as a tanning agent. Many health risks have been associated with the use of tanning pills.

Bronzers are on the opposite end of the risk spectrum of tanning products. Not unlike a makeup, bronzers simply cover up or slightly stain the color onto the skin. It is normal to wash this coloration off at the end of the day with a decent shower. Products such as bronzers and tanning lotions that do not affect the biological chemistry of the body are considered very safe.

Tanning lotions that are DHA based are very popular for their effectiveness and usually last for 5 to 7 days. The common recommendation is to reapply every 3 days to achieve a consistent tan.

The tan offered by DHA based products is simply a color change to the dead skin cells. Since it does not affect anything in the body beyond the surface of the skin these products are generally regarded as very safe. Most people have no problems with these tanning lotions and sprays and like being about to control the level of tan they want.

While there are many fake tanning lotions, sprays, bronzers and other products, there are also products that work with the actually tanning process. Tanning oils and indoor tanning lotions use special chemicals to affect how the UV rays cause the skin to tan.

DHA Based Instant Tanning Lotions

Tanning lotions that are  DHA-based (Dihydroxyacetone)  don’t have as many dangerous side effects as other products might. The only potential problems are allergic reactions of the skin that can cause irritations or rashes. Usually the cases are mild enough to be treated with home remedies.

The first thing to do with any new brand of tanning lotion is to test the reaction of your skin. This is done by applying the lotion to a small area and waiting 24 hours. If there is an allergic reaction or irritation remember to stay away from that brand in the future. Otherwise it is safe to assume that you can use it on larger areas of the body.

Using Tanning Lotions Safely

Knowing the ins and outs of the different types of tanning products is the key to safe tanning. It is important to pick the right tanning lotion with ingredients that offer whatever it is your particular skin types requires to tan safely without burning or damaging your skin.

Knowing the right type of lotion to use is one of the first steps in safety. Beginners should stay away from advanced products such as tingle lotions and tanning oils. Tanning oils will cause anyone without a base tan to burn. Tingle lotions cause the blood flow to the skin to increase which creates the tingle feeling. This is believed to improve the tanning results.

Other types of tanning lotions such as accelerators are also meant to be used to as a complement to tanning. It uses mineral oils and amino acids that are suppose to speed up the tanning process. The most important thing contained in accelerator lotions is the moisturizing ingredients. This keeps the skin moist during tanning which improves the skin’s ability to produce melanin.

Tanning beds and sun bathing causes the skin to dry very quickly so a moisturizer is important to keeping the skin hydrated. Remember that most lotions do not offer any type of SPF protection unless specifically stated on the label. So if you are a first time tanner or do not have a base tan developed it is important to look for a lotion that offers protection.