What is skin tanning?

Sun tanning or simply tanning is the process whereby skin color is darkened or tanned. It is most often a result of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight or from artificial sources, such as a tanning lamp found in indoor tanning beds. People who deliberately tan their skin by exposure to the sun engage in a passive recreational activity of sunbathing. Some people use chemical products which can produce a tanning effect without exposure to ultraviolet radiation, known as sunless tanning.

How skin tans:

Moderate exposure to direct sunlight contributes to the production of melanin and vitamin D by the body, but excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays has negative health effects, including sunburn and increased risk of skin cancer, as well as depressed immune system function and accelerated aging of the skin. Some people tan or sunburn more easily than others. This may be the result of different skin types and natural skin color, and these may be a result of genetics. 

Several cases of tanning addiction have been reported by medical researchers. Though the mechanism by which tanning addiction occurs is unknown, some evidence indicates that the release of endorphins during the tanning process causes the pleasurable effects that underlie the addiction.

The term "tanning" has a cultural origin, arising from the color tan. Its origin lies in the Western culture of Europe when it became fashionable for young women to seek a less pale.

Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation is known to cause skin cancer, make skin age and wrinkle faster, mutate DNA and impair the immune system. Frequent tanning bed use triples the risk of developing melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, according to a 2010 study. The study suggests that the melanoma risk is linked more closely to total exposure than it is to the age at which an individual first uses a tanning bed. The International Agency for Research on Cancer places the use of tanning beds in the highest cancer risk category, describing them as carcinogenic to humans even if used as recommended.

Many people mistakenly believe that having a tan protects their skin against sunburn and UV damage. In fact, a tan offers minimal protection against sunburn (equivalent to around SPF 3, depending on your skin type), and will not protect your DNA from future UV damage. 

Tanning products and UV radiation:

A few tanning lotions include sunscreens, ranging from SPF 4 to 15. However, this protection only lasts for a short time following application and not for the duration of the fake tan, so sunscreen will need to be applied after two hours. Promoting a tanning product as being protective against UV radiation may be misleading.

All tanning products should be used in conjunction with the five sun protection measures – clothing, sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, shade, and sunglasses. 

De-tanning:-

De-tanning in simple words is the removal of the tanned skin and cells accumulated in our body after its exposure to the sun’s UV rays and pollution. This is not an alternative to get “fairer” skin. It is a process to remove the tanned skin to even out the skin tone.

There are numerous ways to de-tan, such as magical serums, effective peeling, bleaching of the skin, de-tan facials and body wraps and our favorite natural organic therapies. We may use tomato to remove the tan of our skin or we may use gram flour along with honey and the easiest one lemon with honey and curd. This takes the tan right off the face, giving us a supple, clearer and fresh resultant skin.

For De-tanning session you may contact to KEMPS Skin Clinic Vaishali, sec-4, Ghaziabad, they have expert staff and Cosmetologist to provide you better skin care.