The white ones would like to be brown; Brunettes dream of being blondes, blondes will yearn for curly hair and those with curly hair insist on straightening it. It is the daily conflict of many women when they stand in front of the mirror and are not satisfied with the genetic inheritance that they received.
Of course, there are dreams with appearance that are easier to conquer than others and technology helps more and more, as happens, for example, those who aspire to change the pale white of their skin for that tan that is so reminiscent of bathing in the be, the coastal breeze and leisure. This brown pigmentation can be conquered in two ways: one, by direct exposure to the Sun, a dangerous method if we don’t take precautions, and two, by using self-tanning creams.
The active ingredient in self-tanners is a molecule called dihydroxyacetone (DHA) which, when it comes into contact with amino acids in the horny layer of the skin, triggers a chemical reaction that causes a color change.
Self-tanners
- In other words, self-tanners catalyze the formation of brown melanoidins, a substance responsible for darkening the cells that make up the outermost layer of the epidermis, which, as we already know, is more ephemeral than the leaves of a tree, so if we stop acting on she recovers her natural color.
- It is, therefore, a different process from sun tanning which, due to ultraviolet rays, can affect the innermost layers of the skin and stimulates the production of melanin, its natural protector. The self-tanner allows you to avoid the harmful effects of the Sun, obtaining a similar and reversible aesthetic result, but it does not protect the skin from the Sun as it does when tanning takes place using the traditional method.
- According to the specialists consulted, the components of these cosmetic products are harmful to health and begin to take effect three or four hours after their application, a process that must be fully completed within 24 hours. The longer the product remains on the skin, the more intense the tanning effect will be which is why many recommend applying it before bed.
- Of course, the final skin tone depends, in the first place on the base color of each person -as it happens with hair dyes-, on the composition of the product and the frequency of application. The amount of amino acids in the epidermis also influences, as well as its level of fat and acidity, for example, dry skin tans more easily than the rest and areas with more protein (elbows, knees and palms of feet and hands) stain more intensely.
- There is a wide spectrum of self-tanners on the market and when choosing it is important to take into account the amount of DHA it contains because according to the manufacturers with 3% DHA a softer tan is achieved, while with 5% a more toasty tan is achieved. They also advise waiting at least eight hours before repeating the application if we are still not satisfied with the coloration obtained.