Sunless Tanning

Who can ignore the inviting call of the summer? The warmth in the air, the perfume of the blossoms and the trees splashed with colors – all welcome us cordially to embrace the sweet summer. We bathe in the sun for hours and as long as we can. But the good old days of sunbathing have gone and the scenario has changed. In these days of pollution, the sun can be held responsible for scarring and blemishes, premature aging and even cancer in the skin.

Some individuals take the short cut route to achieve the desired result. So one doesn’t wait patiently for the offerings of the natural sunlight, instead one opts for sunless tanning. The process of getting suntanned by sunless ways is known as sunless tanning. This process can be in the manifestations of sprays, pills, lotions, tanning booths, tanning beds or powders. The outcome of the process of sunless tanning can vary. One requires knowing a bit about suntan before comprehending the working procedure of sunless tanners.

UV Radiation

We all know that the sun gives out three kinds of UV (ultraviolet) radiation. They are- UVC at 100-290 nm, UBV at 290-320 nm and UVA at 320-400 nm. The last ones, namely, the UVB and the UVA are the most dangerous for the skin. Although UVB is less harmful than the UVA, both are enough to cause harms to our skin.

The human body has its own mechanisms to fight the UV radiation. It counters the damage done by UV rays by creating melanin which is a substance that soaks the damaging rays for preventing the DNA. The more melanin is produced in our body, the darker our complexion turns. This is the mechanism of tanning.

Almost all the sunless tanners are without any harming side effects. Still, you cannot rely on every sunless tanning process thinking it will protect the damages on skin made by the UV rays of the sun. Moreover, researchers argue the role of tanning pills and tanning beds; they are believed to be harmful! Many tanning pills are not approved by the FDA.

Various ways of getting tanned are present which don’t pose risks. The price of the sunless tanning varies. Sunless tanning have proved that not going under the sun does not mean having a pale skin tone.