Applying a special formula of chemicals to the skin to get the effect of a traditional suntan, without any exposure to sun or UV light, is known as sunless tanning. Self tanning and airbrush tanning is a rapidly expanding area in cosmetic sales.
Self tans can come in a variety of application types. Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is used in the product which reacts with amino acids on the skin surface to give the change in color. So there is no skin pigmentation or exposure to UV light.
It is made for home use, although anyone that has not used self tan previously is advised to do a skin test before use. This can be done by applying a small amount to a little area of skin, then wait a day to make sure you are not allergic to the ingredients, before applying to the rest of the body. For the best result, apply to clean, dry skin and allow to fully absorb into the skin before bathing or getting wet.
An airbrush tan is also a sunless tan product but is usually applied by professional technicians using specialized airbrushing equipment, made especially for applying fake tan formula.
In history, paler skin was preferred by a lot of people, as it represented a higher social standing. People in the upper classes would not allow themselves to be exposed to sun, so a tan was something only seen on the lower classes who would spend a lot of time outdoors in the sun due to work. This was the case in Victorian and Elizabethans societies, as well as Rome and Greece where people were known to whiten their faces with chalk. However, in the past century, the tan began to be linked with attractiveness and well being.
The tan did not become fashionable until the twenties when a high profile designer, who had been on cruise holiday returned with a tan. Also the more revealing clothes of the Jazz Era exposed the body even more, giving people more of an excuse to be tanned.
Recent self tan products give a much more natural finish compared to those that first become available. The cream or brown dyes used in the fifties often gave a patchy and orange look but new technologies and ingredients changed this.
Even after health officials in the sixties announced that thy had discovered a link between continuous sun or UV exposure and skin cancer, people still wanted to be tanned due to the positive connotations it implied. Therefore, sunless tanning methods were supported as a great alternative way to be tanned without risk.
Although sunless tanning does not damage skin, most self tans have very low protection from UV. Therefore, the health associations have warned users that they should always keep this in mind when leaving the skin exposed.
More recently, we are once again starting to see paler faces in our fashion and screen icons, so after decades of popularity, the tan may finally be starting to fade.
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