For those of you that would like to look as good as the stars,
its time to get tan with them. Don’t take home any more products that
just dont work. www.solerra.com
Ten Good Reasons To Use Sunless Tanners
- You can get a sunless tan even if you can’t get a real tan.
Sunless tanners don’t need your melanocytes to be in working order. Dihydroxyacetone [DHA], the active ingredient in sunless tanners, saturates the dead skin cells in the outermost layer of skin, where it turns the protein in the dead cells brown. - Sunless tans are completely safe.
Back in the 1970s, the FDA added DHA to its list of safe cosmetic ingredients, and there it remains. Unfortunately, the belief that sunless tanners are hazardous is not uncommon, possibly due to confusion with tanning pills containing beta carotene or canthaxanthin, which were banned by the FDA many years ago. - Sunless tanners are better now than they have ever been.
DHA is the same ingredient that embarrassed you at that swimming pool party in the 1970s, yet it can now fool dermatologists, not to mention your mom. Since it first appeared in Coppertone QuickTan in 1960, DHA has made many strides due to improvements in the refining process. Think of the difference between molasses and white sugar… - Sunless tans are temporary.
After five to seven days, your sunless tan will be completely gone, although a few small remnants could cling as long as two weeks. A sunless tan is not a long term committment! - Sunless tans take less time than a real tan; you can have a tan tomorrow.
You don’t have to start “working on your tan” months in advance. A sunless tan can be a spontaneous decision, like trying a new nail polish. - Sunless tanners help you keep your resolve to use sun screen every day.
Everyone knows they are supposed to use sun screen daily, but few people are fond of the short term effects: pasty white skin. With sunless tanners, you can have the best of both worlds — a golden brown hue, and no skin damage. Ten years from now, everyone will hide behind you when the camera comes out. - You can use a fake tan on specific areas.
A sunless tanner can add a glow to just your face, just your legs, just your…well, you get the picture. - Conversely, you don’t have to worry about tan lines — you can get a fake tan all over.
And you won’t get arrested for exposing yourself. It can all take place in the privacy of your own bathroom. So if you are contemplating wearing those extra short shorts… - You don’t have to spend a lot of money.
Have you been afraid to try inexpensive drugstore brands? You shouldn’t be; since all sunless tanners use the same active ingredient, drugstore sunless tanners can be as good as, or even better than, many department store brands. See the Ten Best Drugstore Sunless Tanning Products section for the brands that make the grade. - You don’t have to do it alone.
Come hang out with us in the sunless.com message boards. Maybe you can’t tell your best friend you use sunless tanners, but you can tell us!
Solerra.com releases its new portal today to attract potential buyers with solid advice, tips and technology.
Spring is here and summer will be here in no time at all. Here are some tips to enjoy the great outdoors while protecting your skin and eyes from sun damage.
- Wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 every day, even on cloudy days and when you don’t plan on spending much time outdoors. Wearing sunscreen every day is essential because as much as 80% of sun exposure is incidental — the type you get from walking your dog or eating lunch outside. If you don’t want to wear a pure sunscreen, try a moisturizer with sunscreen in it, but make sure you put on enough.
- Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Ideally, it should also be hypoallergenic and noncomedogenic so it doesn’t cause a rash or clog your pores and give you acne.
- Apply sunscreen thickly and frequently. If you’re not sure you’re putting on enough, switch to one with a higher SPF. Regardless of the SPF, always reapply sunscreen after a couple of hours. Most broad-spectrum sunscreens are more effective at blocking UVB rays than UVA rays. So even if you don’t get a sunburn, UVA rays could still be doing unseen damage to your skin.
- Reapply sunscreen every 2 to 3 hours and after swimming or sweating. In the direct sun, wear a sunscreen with a higher SPF, like SPF 30. While playing sports, use sunscreen that’s waterproof and sweatproof.
- Take frequent breaks. The sun’s rays are strongest between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. During those hours, take breaks to cool off indoors or in the shade for a while before heading out again.
- Wear a hat with a brim and sunglasses that provide almost 100% protection against ultraviolet radiation.
- You probably know that water is a major reflector of UV radiation — but so is snow. Snow skiing and other winter activities carry significant risk of sunburn, so always apply sunblock before hitting the slopes.
- Certain medications, such as antibiotics used to treat acne and birth control pills, can increase your sun sensitivity. Ask your doctor whether your medications might have this effect and what you should do.
- Avoid tanning “accelerators” or tanning pills that claim to speed up the body’s production of melanin or darken the skin. There’s no proof that they work and they aren’t approved by government agencies for tanning purposes.
This article from The Skin Cancer Foundation is very informative. Tanning salon’s are popping up everywhere. They claim to be safer than sunbathing. Medical professionals are not in agreement. Another reason Sunless Tanning is the way to go. Get that healthy tan without the damaging effects of UV rays. www.sunlessbeauty.com
The Case Against Indoor Tanning
Indoor tanning is big business, with tanning trade publications reporting this as a $2 billion-a-year industry in the United States. According to industry estimates, 28 million Americans are tanning indoors annually at about 25,000 tanning salons around the country. In fact, a recent study of more than 10,000 teens across the US found that tanning bed use was increasing, especially among adolescent girls.
This does not bode well for the health of the nation. In 1994, a Swedish study found that women 18-30 years old who visited tanning parlors 10 times or more a year had seven times greater incidence of melanoma than women who did not use tanning salons. In another study, people exposed to 10 full-body tanning salon sessions had a significant increase in skin repair proteins typically associated with sun damage, indicating that ultraviolet (UV) radiation from indoor tanning is as dangerous as UV from the sun. And in 2002, a study from Dartmouth Medical School found that tanning device users had 2.5 times the risk of squamous cell carcinoma and 1.5 times the risk of basal cell carcinoma . And yet, even with all this evidence, the tanning salons remain unrepentant.
The tanning industry relies on two misleading arguments: first, that since melanoma is mainly caused by sunburn, “controlled” tanning helps prevent melanoma by building up the protective pigment melanin; second, that UV exposure makes the skin produce vitamin D, which helps prevent breast, prostate and colon cancer, as well as other diseases.
Medical experts refute these arguments. They point out that our diet (especially vitamin D-rich foods such as dairy products and salmon) generally provides all the vitamin D we need. Furthermore, tanning to increase melanin is counterproductive. Tanning, like burning, causes genetic damage to skin cells. “You can’t protect the skin by damaging it,” said James M. Spencer, MD, director of dermatologic surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. “Tanning not only increases the risk for melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma, but accelerates skin aging.”
There have been several attempts made to regulate the industry, by physician groups as well as state and national congresspeople and the World Health Organization, with limited success. The FDA is weighing stricter controls over tanning devices, but has not yet instituted any changes. The tanning industry has fought all of these measures. “Tanning manufacturers and salon owners keep lobbying the FDA and state agencies to soften regulations, claiming that tanning is healthful,” said Dr. Spenser.
Unfortunately, even when regulation has occurred, it hasn’t solved the problems. “Regulation can’t make tanning safe,” declared Michael Franzblau, MD, clinical professor of dermatology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco. “Banning salons is the only answer.”
He should know, because he was instrumental in the passage of legislation regulating tanning facilities in California. The law, passed in 1988, unfortunately had no mechanism for registration of tanning parlors or collection of fees from owners. “Hence, there is no enforcement,” notes Dr. Franzblau.
Some states require salons to provide UV-protective eyewear or have machine operators remain present throughout a client’s session. Others require a sign on the booth warning people who always sunburn that tanning puts them at high risk for skin damage. Whatever the regulations, says Dr. Franzblau, there’s no assurance they will be complied with. ”I’ve taken teams of scientists into salons where not one requirement was being followed.” Other studies have shown that tanning salons frequently exceed “safe” UV limits. The average salon patron in North Carolina was recently found to exceed FDA limits by 95 percent.
Is banning salons outright the only answer? Dr. Franzblau believes that eliminating tanning salons “would be 100 percent more effective” than regulating them. And it could save millions of lives.
Effects of Sun on the Skin
Cellular Skin Changes Caused by UV Radiation
Sunlight has a profound effect on the skin causing premature skin aging, skin cancer, and a host of skin changes. Exposure to ultraviolet light, UVA or UVB, from sunlight accounts for 90% of the symptoms of premature skin aging. Many skin changes that were commonly believed to be due to aging, such as easy bruising, are actually a result of prolonged exposure to UV radiation.
Visible Skin Changes Caused by UV Radiation
Texture Changes Caused by the Sun
UV exposure causes thickening and thinning of the skin. Thick skin is found in coarse wrinkles especially on the back of the neck that do not disappear when the skin is stretched. A condition called solar elastosis is seen as thickened, coarse wrinkling and yellow discoloration of the skin. A common effect of UV exposure is thinning of the skin causing fine wrinkles, easy bruising, and skin tearing.
Blood Vessel Changes Caused by the Sun
UV radiation causes the walls of blood vessels to become thinner leading to bruising with only minor trauma in sun-exposed areas. For example, most of the bruising that occurs on sun-damaged skin occurs on the backs of the hands and forearms not on the inside of the upper arm or even the inside of the forearm.
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Pigment Changes Caused by the Sun
The most noticeable sun-induced pigment change is a freckle or solar lentigo. Light-skinned people tend to freckle more noticeably. A freckle is caused when the melanin-producing cell, or melanocyte, is damaged causing it to get bigger. Large freckles, also known as age spots or liver spots, can be seen on the backs of the hands, chest, shoulders, arms, and upper back. These are not actually age related but sun-damage related. UV exposure can also cause white spots especially on the legs, but also on the backs of the hands and arms, as melanocytes are destroyed. The sun also causes the appearance of telangiectasias, tiny blood vessels, in the skin especially on the face.
Skin Bumps Caused by the Sun
UV radiation causes an increased number of moles in sun-exposed areas. Sun exposure also causes precancerous lesions called actinic keratoses that develop especially on the face, ears, and backs of the hands. The are small crusty bumps that can often be felt better than they can be seen. Actinic keratoses are felt to be premalignant lesions because 1 in 100 cases per year will develop into squamous cell carcinoma. UV exposure also causes seborrheic keratoses, which are warty looking lesions that appear to be “stuck on” the skin. In contrast to actinic keratoses, seborrheic keratoses do not become cancerous.
Skin Cancer Caused by the Sun
The ability of the sun to cause skin cancer is a well-known fact. The 3 main skin cancers are melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Melanoma is the most deadly skin cancer because it metastasizes more readily than the other skin cancers. It is believed that the amount of exposure of the skin to the sun before the age of 20 is actually the determining risk factor for melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer and tends to spread locally, not metastasize. Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common skin cancer, and it can metastasize although not as commonly as melanoma. The risk of getting basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma is determined by a person’s lifetime exposure to UV radiation and the person’s pigment protection.
Here is a nice article written by the MAYO Clinic – Enjoy!
Sunless tanning is a practical alternative to sunbathing. Find out how sunless tanning products work, their risks and best practices for getting a natural-looking tan.
You might think you have to choose: Expose your skin to the sun’s damaging rays to get a much-loved tan, or avoid the sun and miss out on that sun-kissed glow. But you have another option — sunless tanning products.
Sunless tanning products, also called self-tanners or tanning extenders, can give your skin a tanned look without exposing it to harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Though generally recognized as safe, sunless tanning products do carry some risks, depending on how they’re used and applied.
How do sunless tanning products work?
The active ingredient in most sunless tanning products is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA is the only color additive approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in sunless tanning products.
When applied to your skin, DHA reacts with dead cells in the outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) to temporarily darken the skin’s appearance. The coloring doesn’t wash off, but it gradually fades as the dead skin cells slough off. In most cases, the color is completely gone after five to seven days.
Many forms of sunless tanning products are available for home-use, including lotions, creams, gels and sprays. They typically go on clear, and you might see results after about an hour. Full color appears within eight to 24 hours. Some products contain a tint, which darkens your skin right away.
Besides home products, spray-on tanning is available at salons, spas and tanning businesses. These professional applications can provide an even, full-body tan.
Is sunless tanning safe?
Sunless tanning products are generally regarded as safe alternatives to sunbathing. The FDA considers DHA safe when applied to your skin.
Spray-on tanning or mist-on tanning from a salon or spa is typically applied to all parts of your body — including your face — to ensure an even color. This creates a potential for the product to get into and around your eyes, near your nostrils or onto your lips.
The risks, if any, of inhaling or ingesting DHA are unknown, so special care is needed to be sure that your spray-on tan is safely applied. Be sure to shut your eyes and hold your breath while the tanner is applied. You may also want to request or bring along protective devices such as goggles or nose plugs.
You may have seen ads for sunless tanning pills, but these products are unsafe and aren’t approved by the FDA. Sunless tanning pills contain large amounts of the color additive canthaxanthin. When taken in large amounts, canthaxanthin settles in parts of your body, including your skin. It can turn your skin orange to brown and can cause canthaxanthin retinopathy, the formation of crystals in the retina of the eye. Tanning pills can also cause nausea, cramps and diarrhea.
Sunless tanning tips: For an even-looking tan
Sunless tanning products no longer cause that orange-brown, streaky appearance. Today the products offer an even, natural-looking tan if they’re applied correctly and carefully. For best results, follow these tips:
- Choose a light- or medium-toned product, which tends to look more natural.
- Before using the product, wash and exfoliate your skin with a wash cloth or sponge to remove excess dead skin cells. Women should shave their legs for an even application.
- Apply the sunless tanning product evenly and lightly. Use less product on dry skin or thickened skin, such as over your ankles, knees and elbows. These areas tend to absorb more product.
- After you apply the product to your face and body, wash your hands with soap and water to avoid coloring your palms. Be sure to remove any product from under your fingernails. Then use a cotton ball to apply the sunless tanner to the top of each hand.
- To prevent staining your clothes, wait until the sunless tanner dries completely, about 15 to 20 minutes.
Most sunless tanning products don’t contain a sunscreen and, therefore, don’t protect your skin from sun damage. If you spend time outdoors, be sure to apply a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 before going outside.
What is Erythrulose?
ERYTHRULOSE is also used by some manufacturers as an additive to counter some of the negative side affects of water/alchohol based delivery systems. It is a natural keto-sugar which reacts with free primary or secondary amino groups (Maillard’s reaction). This reaction with free amino groups of the amino acids of keratin in the skin leads to the DHA-driven formation of brownish polymers, the so-called melanoids (a tan effect on the skin). It is an attempt to counter the negative results from water/alchohol based delivery systems. The properties of Erythrulose have been documented in complex in vivo studies. Erythrulose is a clear, yellowish, preservative-free solution of a biotechnologically produced, chiral carbohydrate. The manufacturing process of pure Erythruloseincludes the aerobic fermentation of the bacterium Gluconobacter followed by several purification steps.
The result of studies show Erythrulose takes 24-48 hours to begin it’s affects. By that time most sunless tanners have been washed off. It may have a positive result in reducing some of the drying affects caused by alchohol and DHA. Used in combination with a pharmaceutical delivery system Erythrulose may prove to add some value to sunless products. Erythrulose is not currently approved by the FDA.
Excellent Article I came across on how this sunless tanners work! – Angie “Enjoy”
http://science.howstuffworks.com/question639.htm Here is the reference link .
How do sunless-tanning products work?
If you’ve read our article How Sun Tans and Sunburns Work, you know that skin is made up of two main layers: the epidermis on the outside and the dermis on the inside. Whether you are talking about sun tanning or self-tanning, the epidermis is where the action occurs. The epidermis is also made up of layers. The deepest layer of the epidermis, called the stratum basale (basal layer), is affected during sun tanning. The stratum corneum (horny layer) is the outermost layer of the epidermis — it is this layer that is affected by most sunless-tanning products.
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There are several different kinds of sunless-tanning products available today. People have been able to pour on a tan since 1960, when Coppertone® came out with the first sunless-tanning product — QT® or Quick Tanning Lotion. If you are old enough to remember this, then you are probably thinking of the incredibly orange hue this lotion produced. Since then, there have been several advancements made on the sunless-tanning front. These days, you can find tanning pills, sunless- or self-tanners and bronzers. You can smooth, swipe or spray on a light bronze glow or a deep, dark tan. Many of these products take 45 minutes to one hour to start taking effect, and once you factor in drying time, you could be looking at about three hours spent achieving that sun-free tan.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the most effective products available are sunless- or self-tanning lotions that contain dihydroxyacetone (DHA) as the active ingredient. 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, a color change occurs. This change usually lasts about five to seven days from the initial application.
Every day, millions of dead skin cells are sloughed off or worn away from the surface of your skin. In fact, every 35 to 45 days, you have an entirely new epidermis. This is why tans from sunless- or self-tanning lotions will gradually fade — as the dead cells are worn away, so is your tan. For this reason, most of these products suggest that you reapply the sunless- or self-tanner about every three days to maintain your “tan.”
Although gels, lotions or sprays that contain DHA are said to be the most reliable and useful, there are dozens of other types of products on the market. Tanning accelerators — lotions or pills that usually contain the amino acid tyrosine — claim that they stimulate and increase melanin formation, thereby accelerating the tanning process. At this time, there is no scientific data available to support these claims.
Another sunless-tanning product is a tanning pill that contains canthaxanthin, which is most commonly used as a color additive in certain foods. Although the FDA has approved the use of canthaxanthin in food, it does not approve its use as a tanning agent. When used as a color additive, only very small amounts of canthaxanthin are necessary. As a tanning agent, however, much larger quantities are used. After canthaxanthin is consumed, it is deposited all over your body, including in your skin, which turns an orange-brown color. These types of tanning pills have been linked to various side effects, including hepatitis and canthaxanthin retinopathy, a condition in which yellow deposits form in the retina of the eye.
Another popular form of sunless tanning is the bronzer. These powders and moisturizers, once applied, create a tan that can easily be removed with soap and water. More like make-up, these products tint or stain your skin only until they are washed off.
It’s important to remember that most of these products, unless they contain an added sunscreen, will not protect you from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. Even products that do contain a sunscreen won’t be of much help, since they lose their efficacy within hours of application. So, if you’re planning to head outside to show off your new glow, be sure to apply some extra sunscreen.
Solerra product attracts the attention of the stars, February 25, 2007
Incredible Hulk will trade in his green for some nice sunless tanner!
Debbie Gibson chekcs out our product, and takes home a bag of product!
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