Your body’s largest organ is the skin, covering around 20 sq. ft. of a surface. Aside from giving protection, your skin also influences your outside appearance a lot. It is no wonder that much attention and effort are given to its care. Some stay away from the sun because they want to maintain their white complexion. Others would rather bask in the sun to achieve that bronzed glow.
If you love your skin to be tanned often, it is vital to do so in the best and safest way possible. There are questions like “What does suntan lotion do?” or “How long should I be under the sun?” that you should be asking and getting answers for before getting to it. You would want to look gorgeously tawny without harming your skin, right?
How Does Tanning Occur?
Before we get to the stuff that can aid you in achieving this desired skin shade, you should familiarize yourself with the process behind it. The cause behind the one, two, or more shades of browner skin when you get exposed to sunlight or artificial heat is because your skin produces more melanin, the skin pigment behind the tanning when ultraviolet rays hit it.
You have 2 kinds of UV rays. There is the UVB that can only burn the topmost skin layer. The other one is the UVA which penetrates deeper into the inner layer and causes the melanocytes to make more melanin than they normally would. The more pigments produced, the tawnier your skin condition can become.
More article: How much is spray tanning.
Why Should I Tan My Skin?
The usual motive for skin tanning is for aesthetic purposes. In addition to that, you will enjoy several benefits when you get tanned.
1. Tanning is a remedy for Vitamin D deficiency.
2. Endorphins, our “happy hormones”, are produced once ultraviolet rays hit our skin. You feel happier and more elated during and after the process. It is one reason why this is an approach utilized in treating depression and premenstrual syndrome.
3. Tanned skin shields you naturally from UV rays, thanks to higher levels of melanin.
4. Natural or artificial tanning is a treatment option for certain health conditions like psoriasis and fungal infections.
What Does Suntan Lotion Do?
You would want the brown hue but never the drawbacks of UV Exposure. Getting that desired shade more conveniently is possible with some help from products such as suntan lotion. But what is a suntan lotion and how is it different from sunscreen lotion?
A suntan lotion lets the tanning process speed up usually by raising blood flow inside the skin, thus making it produce more melanin. Many suntan lotions do not contain sunscreen properties to ensure that UVA reaches the inner layers. However, some tanning products these days are SPF 8 or SPF 4, having just the right amount of protection while still letting some UV rays into the skin. It can also protectyou form sun damage. Thus, skin protection is very important.
The difference between a suntan and a sunscreen lotion is that the former is “welcoming” to the sun rays while the latter blocks them. Suntan lotions may filter the UVB protection but not the UVA rays. On the other hand, sunscreen filters sunlight, especially UVA, through a chemical mechanism.
Why Use a Suntan Lotion?
Some people believe that their sensitive skin will look browner with or without applying suntan lotion. So why use it? Aside from helping with the process, what does a suntan lotion do that can benefit you? There is more to this product than you think.
1. As said before, several suntan lotions have SPF properties that ensure your skin is tanned but not burned. This will also protect your darker skin from premature aging and stop it from wrinkling despite the constant and/or prolonged exposure to UV rays.
2. Through the moisturizers that the suntan lotion contains, you ensure that your skin does not dry out during the tanning process. Sun protection is very important and lotions can gives you that complete sun protection. You have to avoid long sun exposure.
3. By boosting the effect of the UV radiation fon your skin, the lotion can speed up the browning process.
4. There are suntan lotions that continue to deepen the hue of your dark skin even when you are no longer exposed to the sun or are done with your indoor session.
Choosing The Right Suntan Lotion For Yourself
If you search online, there is plenty of suntan lotion recommendations with certain brands getting mentioned several times on different websites. But before adding one to your cart, you need to ascertain what you need from a suntan lotion.
Below are things to consider:
1.Indoor or outdoor. Are you going out and staying under the sun or just lay inside the tanning bed? There are specific products and formulations suitable for sunbathing and indoor tanning respectively.
2. Desired shade. How brown or bronzed do you want to be? Some suntan lotions can hasten the tanning process.
3. Skin Moisture. Keeping the skin healthy is an equally important goal when tanning. If you are dry skin-prone, pick a product that contains components that will let the skin stay hydrated despite the heat.
4. Your Comfort. Determine how sensitive your body is as suntan lotions have varying mechanisms that your skin may react differently to each product. Some lotions give that hot and tingling sensation while others offer a cooling effect.
5. Length of Exposure. How long will the indoor tanning session be? Or how long will you be outdoors? Coolant lotions are ideal if you tend to prolong the periods of tanning.
After listing down your preferences, move on with picking the perfect product for you. See to it that the one you choose ticks off these qualities:
1. The suntan lotion is highly recommended by people you know and by respected skin experts like dermatologists.
2. There are several positive reviews about the suntan lotion on the web that have been written and posted by reliable individuals and legit users.
3. These suntan lotions possess all the necessary permits and clearances for distribution in your country. It is deemed safe and effective to use by the authorities.
4. Your chosen suntan lotion should be appropriate for your chosen tanning process (indoor or outdoor).
5. The suntan lotion is suitable for your delicate skin type.
6. Compared to other suntan lotions and formulations, the specific product’s price is reasonable for the perks it offers.
7. The product you obtain is authentic and was sourced from an authorized seller.
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It is possible and easier to achieve a sun-kissed glow anytime and wherever you are, thanks to ingenious creations. What does suntan lotion do? It lets you get that tawny fair skin color without the hassle and disadvantages you may experience if you spend too much time sunbathing or inside the tanning bed. If you do not protect your skin the risk of skin cancer can occur. You can feel some allergic reactions due to over exposure to sun. You have to protect against harmful ultraviolet by applying lotions. You can also avoid dark colors cloths.
