Indoor tanning, like outdoor tanning, requires exposure to skin damaging ultraviolet (UV) light. Sunless tanners and bronzers are alternatives to traditional tanning that do not require UV exposure. Ttanners can be temporary, like makeup, or as holistic as producing a natural glow. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate most tanning products, so be a wise consumer; buy from trusted brands, read product labels carefully and respect your body.
Function
The UV exposure from traditional tanning causes skin irritation, uneven splotches, premature aging, accelerated wrinkling, first or second degree burns and increases your risk of cancer. Sunless tanners react with amino acids on the skin, this produces a tan without exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. Bronzers sit on top of the skin, like makeup and sometimes contain sun block to further protect against environmental UV exposure. Sunless tanners and bronzers are considered safe when used as directed.
Types
Sunless tanners are lotions you apply at home or sprays for professional application in a spray booth. Bronzers are tinted moisturizers or powders that come in a variety of colors and shades. The lotions and moisturizers in either type can be messy and difficult to apply evenly. This makes spray booths more convenient, but you have to take special care to keep the spray away from your eyes, lips and nostrils.
Time Frame
Sunless tanners take minutes to apply, but require four hours to fully activate on the skin. They can last for a week, but fade as the skin sheds. Sunless tanners are best for temporary full-body tanning. Apply bronzers as you would apply makeup, wherever you want the "bronze" look. The bronze is instant, but only lasts a few days. Some bronzer products can be washed off. Bronzer is best for enhancing your skin tone for a short period of time.
Considerations
A healthy lifestyle makes your skin tone look its best. Exercise causes sweating, which releases toxins that would otherwise be locked inside the skin. Proper nutrition makes the skin silky smooth, while controlling fat and alcohol intake may reduce the risk of skin cancer. Skin care with cleansers, lotions, and exfoliants keep the top layer of skin cells healthy so the color beneath, and maybe the bronzer on top, has a natural glow.
Warnings
Avoid products marketed as ingestible tanning agents or tanning pills. Canthaxanthin, a pigment used as food coloring, is the active ingredient in many tanning pills. High doses of the pigment turn the skin orange-brown, like a tan, but it also colors other internal organs, including the brain. The FDA does not approve canthaxanthin as a tanning agent. Side effects of the tanning pill include retinopathy and hepatitis.
