Sunless tanning
A self-tanning product is a cosmetic that is used to achieve a tanning of the skin without damaging UV light.
In addition to tanning creams more product forms nor offered: milk ( liquid emulsion ), gel, lotion (aqueous or alcoholic solution), spray or foam. In addition, the consumer between different browning intensities can choose. A distinction is made between self-tanner for the face and for the body. Self for the face is usually a creamy consistency to apply the self-tanner precise. Self for the body is thinner, because you can then distribute the self-tanner on larger areas more easily.
Self contain the active compound dihydroxyacetone (DHA ), a simple sugar ( monosaccharide ), with three carbon atoms ( triose ), the phosphate occurs in the human body as a natural intermediate in the metabolism. DHA reacts chemically with proteins and amino acids of the stratum corneum, which turns brown as a result after about 3-6 hours. The thicker the stratum corneum ( elbows, hands), the more intense the color. Since the skin is constantly renewed, the tan will disappear after few days. In addition to DHA Erythrulose is used as an active ingredient for sunless tanning. It is, from a chemical point of view also a sugar, and the reaction mechanisms of the skin are comparable to those of DHA. Mostly combinations of DHA and Erythrulose be used.
Unlike sunscreen protects a self-tanner not against harmful UV radiation. Some products, however, additionally contain UV filters. Eye contact with the active ingredient DHA can lead to irritation and should be avoided in the application. Rarely respond users allergic to the drug. For intensive application difficult to wash yellow-brown stains may appear on the clothing. Particularly affected are the body that secrete more sweat (eg armpits ) or where clothing rubs strong ( such as a collar, step).
Dealing with self-tanning requires some experience. A uniform, natural-looking tan is hard to achieve. The degree of browning in different parts of the skin can be so different, that a unintentionally patchy skin image. Often this is referred to as a chipmunk effect. Specific problem areas in the application of self-tanning are the knees and elbows, since the cornea is thicker and the self thus more responsive with this. Self is now often offered as an additive in conventional moisturizer, decrease due to the lower share of the DHA ingredient thereby possible errors in the application.
A new trend is currently the so-called spray tanning, the body is sprayed, for example, under a kind of shower uniformly with self-tanner.
Tanning accelerators
Tanning accelerators are cosmetics, which accelerates in the skin with the aid of selected ingredients tanning process. The tanning process is created with the help of UVA and UVB rays. Meet Longwave UVA rays on the skin and help in the skin located melanins, which are responsible for tanning, dye and thus can immediately visible tan arise. Short-wave UVB rays, however, help to ensure that skin cells can only arise at all melanins. They therefore support the skin cells with melanin production. Are present, the more melanin in the skin, the stronger may fail at the end of browning.