Sunless Tanning vs Sun Tanning
by
Estate Jewelry International
zone3
With more and more of us understanding the serious consequences of sun
tanning, we are looking for alternatives. Remember the first self tanners
that hit the shelves many years ago – wella you became instant carrot
orange. Well we’ve come along way babe! The new sunless tanning products
are much more natural looking than past generations of sunless tanning
products.
How do Sunless Tanning Products Work?
Your skin is made up of two
main layers: the outer layer called the and the inner layer called the
dermis. In both normal sun tanning and sunless sun tanning the action
occurs in the epidermis level. The deepest layer of the epidermis is
called the stratum basale and this is the layer that is affected during
normal sun tanning. The stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the
epidermis and this is the layer that is affected by most sunless-tanning
products.
In todays market there are several different kinds of sunless-tanning
products available. Since the early 1960s people have been able to get
their tan from a bottle. Coppertone was the first to hit the market with
its Quick Tanning Lotion. What it is most remembered for is the wonderful
carrot orange hue it produced. There have been many advancements in self
tanning since the early years. Now adays you can purchase tanning pills,
selt tanners, sunless tanners, bronzers, and a host of other similar type
products. You can smooth, swipe or spray on a light bronze glow or a deep,
dark tan. Most of these products take 45 to 60 minutes to work, and then
another couple of hours to dry properly.
The most effective sunless or
self tanning products contain the active ingredient DHA
[dihydroxyacetone]. DHA is a colorless sugar that interacts with the dead
cells located in the stratum corneum of the epidermis. As the sugar
interacts with the dead skin cells, the skin changes color. This changes
last from 3 to 7 days, and then you’ll need to reapply.
Gels, lotions
or sprays that contain DHA are said to be the most reliable. There are
other very good products on the market as well, such as tan accelerators
that contain the amino acid tyrosine. Tyrosine stimulates and increases
the formation of melanin, thereby accelerating the tanning process.
Currently there is no scientific data available to support these claims.
Tanning pills contain canthaxanthin, a color additive used in some
foods. Canthaxanthin is approved by the FDA for food use, but it is not
approved the use of it in tanning agents. This is because when it is used
as a color additive very small amounts are needed, but when used as a
tanning agent much larger quantities are needed. After canthaxanthin is
eaten, it is deposited all over your body, including in your skin, which
turns an orange-brown colour. These types of tanning pills have been
linked to side effects such as hepatitis and canthaxanthin retinopathy.
Canthaxanthin retinopathy is a condition in which yellow deposits form in
the retina of the eye.
Bronzers are also very popular. Bronzers come
in the form of powders or moisturizers. They create an instant tan that
can be removed with soap and water. Bronzers are really a line of make-up,
because they only tint the surface of your skin.
If you're going to be
outdoors make certain to still use your regular sunscreen protection.
Sunless tanning agents do not protect you from the damaging rays of the
sun unless they have UVA and UVB protection. Even those products that do
contain.
Your sunless tan will only last as long as the colored skin
layer remains intact on your body, so moisturize, moisturize, and
moisturize some more, because this will slow down the shedding process and
extend the life of your sunless tan.
Tanning Mother Natures Way
When you tan, what your melanocytes produce melanin pigment in reaction
to ultraviolet light in sunlight which stimulateds melanin production. The
pigment is able to absorb UV radiation in sunlight, so it is able to
protect the cells from UV damage.
Melanin production is slow and takes
a fair bit of time, which is why people cannot get a sun tan in one day
[although there is a small percentage of the population that can]. What
you need to do is expose yourself to the suns UV rays for a short period
of time for between 4 to 7 days. By doing this your cells will build up a
level of protection.
For many races melanin production is continuous,
so the skin is always pigmented to some degree, so they have a constant
protection from UV radiation. Very low cancer rates are seen in these
races.
Melanocytes produces two different pigments: eumelanin which is
brown, and phaeomelanin which is yellow and red. Red-heads produce more
phaeomelanin and less eumelanin, which is why they don’t tan well.
Sunlight arrives on earth in three forms: infrared (heat), visible
light and ultraviolet. Ultraviolet light is classified into three
categories: UVA which causes tanning, UVB which damages the skin and
causes sunburn, and UVC which is filtered out by the atmosphere and never
reaches earth. 99% of the sun's UV radiation at sea level is UVA. UVB is
the one the reeks havoc on our skin causing premature aging, deep
wrinkles, and in the worst cases cancer.
UV radiation is reflected by different surfaces so you can amplify your
exposure depending on the reflective surface. Snow reflects up to 90% of
UV light and has been known to cause snow blindness and severe sunburn
from skiing on a sunny day. Sand reflects up to 20% of UVB that hits it so
you get extra UV exposure at the beach.
The flip to this is that some
things absorb almost all the UV radiation. Glass is a perfect example –
that’s why you don’t burn in your car on a hot day. Sunscreens use
chemicals that have UV-absorbing properties.
Sunburn
Caucasian people do not have a natural built in protection
as do many races. So if you are a caucasion with no tan then your skin is
not protected from the UV rays, making you susceptible to sunburn if you
spend too much time in the sun. Sunburn leaves your skin red and extremely
painful, and in severe cases blisters will appear.
Over the course of several hours, exposed skin turns bright red and
becomes extremely painful when touched. Most times you can feel the heat
radiating from the skin. When you get a sunburn you have have killed skin
cells. The outer epidermis are already dead skin cells, but just below
these cells is a continuous supply of new cells being created to replenish
the top layer of dead cells.
When you sit in the sun you expose
yourself to ultraviolet light which kills cells. The ultraviolet light is
able to reach the layer of living cells in the epidermis and begins to
damage and kill them.
Your body knows that cells are being killed, so
your immune system is activated to clean things up. Blood flow to the area
is increased which opens up capillary walls so that white blood cells can
come in and remove the damaged cells. The increased blood flow makes your
skin warm and red. The nerve endings for pain begin sending signals to
your brain. The damaged cells release chemicals that activate pain
receptors and this is the end result where your sunburn hurts or is very
sensitive.
You can avoid sunburn by using a proper strength sunscreen
or pace yourself getting a tan which then acts as a natural sunscreen
created with its own special pigment cells in the epidermis. When you have
a nice tan and go out in the sun you don’t get burnt, unless your so fair
you never tan in which case you need to use sunscreen all the
time
Evidence is now showing that the massive increase in skin cancer
is as a result of sun exposure that occurred, in many cases, over 20 years
ago. So take care of your skin by using sunscreen, it’s the only skin
you’ve got for your lifetime.
We all seem to strive for the rich golden color of summer. It lifts our
spirits and makes us feel better all over. Which ever method you decide to
use to get that golden brown skin, use common sense to achieve your goals
and always wear sunscreen when outside. Your skin will thank you 20 or 30
years from now when your not all wrinkled like a prune and not undergoing
skin cancer treatments. Take care of your skin, it’s got to las you a
lifetime!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Estate Jewelry International has been serving customers for over 20
years, providing estate jewely & costume jewelry for all occasions, as
well as a wealth of information on jewelry, fashion, designers, and
beauty. Please visit us.
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