| Most people who benefit from the use of sunless | | | | the 1970's that the FDA approved the use of DHA for |
| tanning lotions don't ever stop to think about how they | | | | cosmetics and it wasn't until the 1980's that it became |
| work. After all, they're just glad that they work, | | | | the primary ingredient in sunless tanning lotions. |
| providing natural-looking tans without requiring them to | | | | Okay, so now you know the history of how DHA |
| go out into the sun. But perhaps you've mused upon | | | | came to be an important part of sunless tanning lotions |
| the fact that sunless lotions are a really interesting | | | | but how does it work? Basically, this sugar forms a |
| product. And perhaps you've wondered how they do | | | | natural reaction with your skin cells that results in the |
| what they do. Do they dye the skin? Are they safe? | | | | changing of skin color. Varying amounts of DHA within |
| These are the questions that a few people have | | | | the sunless tanning lotions will produce varying shades |
| wanted to know about sunless tanning lotions. | | | | of color because higher concentrations of DHA will |
| The answer that these people is looking for is simple. | | | | have a greater reaction with the skin and create a |
| DHA. Okay, maybe it's not that simple, but once you | | | | darker coloring. Because the DHA is only reacting with |
| know a little bit about it, the sunless tanning lotion | | | | the outer layers of the skin, the sunless tanning lotion is |
| process is easy to understand. Basically, the important | | | | designed to have a temporary effect. Hence the |
| ingredient in any sunless tanning lotion that you might | | | | maintenance that you do to keep the tan looking fresh. |
| use is an ingredient called DHA, short for | | | | So, in a sense, yes - DHA does dye the skin although it |
| dihydroxyacetone. This is a natural ingredient (a | | | | does so through a natural chemical reaction. Is that |
| carbohydrate actually, see there is such a thing as | | | | safe? DHA has now been on the FDA's list of |
| good carbs!). Believe it or not, it's basically a sugar. | | | | approved cosmetics products for over 30 years. The |
| Way back in the 1920's, DHA was being used for | | | | worst thing that your skin is likely to experience as a |
| medical purposes and it was discovered that it turned | | | | result of the reaction is a mild tingling or slight irritation. |
| the skin a darker color than it naturally was. It was then | | | | Other than that, the product is considered to be safe. |
| that the idea was sparked that would eventually lead | | | | People who have lingering concerns about the effects |
| to the creation of sunless tanning lotions. But original | | | | of UV rays from natural outdoor tanning and indoor |
| plans were derailed and the first sunless tanning lotions | | | | salon tanning often find that the use of sunless tanning |
| (which didn't come out until forty years after that | | | | lotions is a preferable alternative to getting the tan that |
| discovery) didn't make good use of DHA. It wasn't until | | | | they desire. |