How Dark Self Tanners Work

By Susan Jumonville


Dark self turners are appliances or products utilized for making skin color darker or for tanning it. Dark self tanners and/or natural sun generate ultraviolet radiation used for attaining this effect. Light reflected from various surfaces or windburn may also cause the same effect over a long period of exposure.

Dark self tanning might occur deliberately or involuntarily. Individuals who do it voluntarily may use chemical commodities or involve in sun bathing. Prolonged unintentional exposure to sun radiation may present a few benefits along some adverse consequences. The benefit is that exposing the skin to ultraviolet radiation, enables it to synthesize Vitamin D. Sun bathing for too long may cause a higher risk of aging, depressed immune system functioning, skin cancer, and sunburn.

Dark self tanners come in various sizes, shapes, and colors. They are made of metals such as aluminum, iron, stainless steel, or their alloys. They are cylindrical in shape to form a cavity inside which a person lies. Dark self tanners also have leads which comprise UV sources. Once a person lies inside, the UV sources are turned on to illuminate their body. The sizes of dark self tanners are meant to fit that of an adult human being.

Dark self tanners have predetermined intensity settings and time frames, which one can stay inside. Beyond that time or intensity, the radiation becomes harmful to the skin. Tanning varies among individuals, with some taking a short period while others take too long. The ease with which one tans depends on genetic factors such as natural skin color and type.

There are two key manners in which skin color is affected by dark self tanners. Ultraviolet rays generated by dark self tanners can be categorized into UVA and UVB. Both variants result into melanogenesis, the process by which melanocytes synthesize melanin pigments. Melanin pigments are also of two kinds, the brown one referred to as eumelanin and the red one called pheomelanini.

The task of melanin is to soak up solar energy therefore safeguarding the body from damage. Excess solar energy can damage DNA chains directly or indirectly. The body system counters the damage by generating and discharging more melanin into membrane cells. This increased production of melanin is mainly stimulated by UVB beams because of direct or indirect photo-damage. The tan that comes from this activity stays longer and is darker but only becomes evident after three days of exposure.

UV-A also results in creation of a tan. Here, UV-A causes oxidative stress, which leads to oxidation of the melanin already present. When melanin is oxidized, its color turns to dark brown. UVA generated by the sun or dark self tanners also causes existing melanin to redistribute although its quantity remains the same. This makes oxidation of melanin less capable of protecting the body against UV damage than UVB. Dark self tanners have a lot of uses in the fashion businesses, where models utilize them to darken their skins before engaging in competitions.

Dark self tanners are expensive equipment. They need good handling and maintenance for them to last long. If great care is taken of dark self tanners, they can last several years.




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