Tanning Options

Sun Baking

Clinical studies have already discovered that it is not safe to stay indoors altogether, because avoiding the sun, one may develop a vitamin deficiency. Some deficiencies, such as a vitamin D deficiency, may potentially lead to skin cancer development alongside other a higher risk of developing other cancers.
 
Pros:
Most natural looking tan may result from safe exposure to the sun, but it must be acquired in extremely minimal doses and also over an extended amount of time.
The vitamin D that is acquired through minimal to moderate amount of the sun (UV) exposure has been shown to have many health benefits.
Cons: 
Overexposure to the damaging UV Rays supplied by sunlight has been linked to melanoma and makes a person subject to heightened risk of:

• Skin damage
• Premature ageing
• Sunspots
• Increased wrinkles
• Sunburn
• Skin cancer/melanoma

The sun and its availability to those desiring a tan may depend on seasonality and climate. In the colder months, it may be harder to achieve skin pigmentation out in the sun.

Sunless Tanning Options | Alternatives

Sun beds

Cases of melanoma (skin cancer) has been increasing in the warmer climates, and localities of Australia. Studies have already linked an increase in the instances of melanoma occurring in women in their 30’s who have regularly used sun beds in the past. Because of this, sun beds have been banned throughout Australia.
Indoor ultraviolet (UV) tanning beds have been reviewed, and scientists propose those who use them are more likely to develop skin cancer, than those who never tanned indoors. (Skincancer.org)
Pros:
All year round tanning
Cons:

• Risk of skin damage
• Sunburn
• Premature ageing
• Skin cancer/melanoma
• Excessive sunbed tanning has been linked to an increased risk of ocular melanoma, cataracts and of developing photo conjunctivitis. It is important to remember goggles when tanning in a tanning bed.

Fake Tan

The fake tan has gotten better at “faking it” nowadays. Unlike the past formulations which typically presented tans that appeared more orange in tone, today self tanners appear in shades that are much more natural. Spray formulations have been developed to make self tanning solutions much easier to apply. When applied correctly, they have the potential to darken skin pigment temporarily during the winter months. Care must be taken to the timing and removal of fake tanning solution, so to avoid, uneven streaks as the solution wears off.
Pros:
Lack of UV rays, sprays for even coverage compared to creams if applied correctly
Cons:

• Clothing and skin staining
• Expensive and time consuming to maintain
• Unsightly mistakes due to less than perfect application

Tanning Peptides

Skin Pigmentation (tanning) that requires minimal sun exposure to promote increased melanin in the skin. The tan appears to look natural and does not require an unhealthy exposure to the sunlight in order to develop a tan.   The introduction of aMSH hormone into circulation is meant to promote an increased production of melanin by the skin cells. Minimal sun is said to activate the process of melanogenesis, which reportedly increases skin pigmentation ie) tanning of the skin.
A-msh is a pituitary hormone which causes darkening of the skin pigment in amphibians and humans. (melanogenesis)
Pros:
It is suggested that utilising this tanning option, an individual may potentially acquire an enhanced tan with minimal sun exposure. For those who have in the past developed a tan through either safe daily doses of sunlight ( a process that takes a considerable amount of time and vigilence as to the external factors contributing to UV exposure)., it is understood this process could reduce the time it takes to develop a tan.
Cons:
Some products are administered via injection
Side Effects That May Occur
Increased Pigmentation
Increased Size of Moles and Freckleson of Moles and Freckles
Nausea has been reported by those individuals using tanning peptides close to mealtime.
 

Tanning

Tanning and Increased Melanin Production

How do you increase melanin production in the skin to develop a tan with minimal exposure to UV radiation?
One must find a way to efficiently increase the production of the melanocyte-stimulating hormone, to produce melanin. Luckily there is a way to do this safely, and that is with the tanning peptide. This will all make sense with a quick review of some skin basics.
Our Skin – The Dermis and Epidermis
Located on the bottom is the dermis, the epidermis is the uppermost layer of one’s skin. The role of the epidermis is to protect the skin against the toxins in the, as well as water and UV radiation. Comprised of approximately 95% keratinocytes, which are responsible for producing keratin, within the epidermis we find the home of the melanocytes. A “melanocyte” is a specialised cell. It determines one’s skin, and it defines one’s natural hair colour.
In the skin, there are two types of melanin

• Protecting us from UV radiation is eumelanin. Eumelanin is brown-black and photoprotective.
• Offering no protection against UV radiation is pheomelanin, which is the yellow-red and photo-reactive melanin.
• Darker skin types will mainly produce eumelanin, whereas fair skinned skin types have high levels of pheomelanin, thus they typically burn quickly in the sun.

Melanin and its protective mechanism

If someone has been exposed to large amounts of ultraviolet radiation, they have the risk of causing damage to the DNA in their skin cells. Our protective mechanism is what counteracts this damage. Increased production of melanin pigment gets secreted from the melanocytes. The resulting tan works to buffer the skin from further UV damage. Tanning essentially is a reaction coming from the skin that ultimately aims to protect and prevent further DNA damage.
How developed one’s tan becomes is not attributed to the number of melanocytes present in the skin, but rather it is somewhat assigned to the rate of melanin produced and to the type of melanin produced.

Melanotan II – The Tanning Peptide

• First synthesised at the University of Arizona.
• Scientists were investigating potential treatments for skin cancer when they discovered Melanotan II.
• Through the process of melanogenesis, one could induce the body’s natural pigmentary system and achieve a protective tan before UV exposure.

With minimal UV exposure, the release of a-MSH stimulates a natural increase in melanin production. Use of the tanning peptide stimulates the increase of melanin by providing more a-MSH.
Clinical trials indicate that use of the tanning peptide promotes melanogenesis and it does so with minimal side effects.
Melanogenesis protects the hypodermis by absorbing all of the UVB light, blocking its passage into the underlayer of the skin. The hypodermis is the underlayer that UVB light could potentially damage with overexposure.
 

• Melanocytes produce melanin.
• Melanin is a skin pigmentation that contributes to our skin and hair colour.
• Skin colour / tanned skin protects the skin against ultraviolet radiation.
• Increase melanin production occurs with the tanning peptide.