Are Sunless Tanning Products Safe and Reliable? Did you know that tanning has become a fashion tre

Did you know that tanning has become a fashion trend in 1923? Yes, tanning has been popular for almost a century! Being tan is equated to being young and beautiful. How so? Simply because it connotes youthful activities like going to the beach and playing sports under the sun. Furthermore, a tanned complexion tends to hide your skin's blemishes making it appear clearer and smoother.

But the sun's rays emit UV rays that are harmful to the skin. In fact, aside from causing premature skin aging, it is also one of the leading causes of skin cancer. Because of this tanning salons have then become popular. But then, tanning beds and lamps have been proven in the recent years to emit a higher concentration of UV rays, causing these types of tanning equipment to be labeled as carcinogenic.

With tanning seeming to be a health risk, the five-billion-dollar tanning industry suffered a great loss. Hence, sunless tanning technology has been developed to make having a bronzed complexion a safe and easy process. This technology has actually been around since the 60s when Coppertone introduced the first ever indoor tanning lotion. However, it became a flop as it tended to make the skin turn into an orange hue.

Now, self tanning has been perfected to not only be safe, but also easy to apply and convenient. But is this really true? Well yes, indeed! Sunless tanning lotions nowadays contains the active ingredient called dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which is what makes it safe and effective. DHA is a colorless type of sugar that causes a darkening reaction to the outer layer of the skin. In fact, DHA is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as safe for topical application.

Also, DHA only targets the dead skin cells so it does not harm or damage your healthy skin. As the dead skin cells are replaced by newer and healthier skin cells, the tan also disappears, which is what makes sunless tanning lotions temporary, lasting only for 5-7 days. This answers the question of whether self tanning is safe or not. Just look for the active ingredient DHA and it should be safe.

Now, as to whether or not sunless tanning lotions and sprays are reliable or not, the answer is that it depends on the user. The product in itself is reliable as it works when used and applied properly. Of course, you are also responsible for it to be effective. What you need to do is simple. Just read the instructions on the label and follow them carefully. You also need to do a bit of research before you buy sunless tanning products to know what brands can be relied on and what practices ensure the even application of the tanning lotion, like exfoliating and moisturizing a few days before application.

For all you tanners out there, remember that you also need to be responsible. Don't just buy a self tanning product and then apply it as soon as you get home. It doesn't work this way. It's a safe and convenient way to tan—but it's not a miracle potion wherein you apply it and you tan beautifully instantly. There are things you need to do before you apply the sunless tanning lotion and you need to prepare properly before applying. With this said, happy tanning!