With the obvious risk of skin cancer and the other damaging effects the sun can have on the skin there are a number of ways you can go to still get a good looking tan. It can be done completely without sunlight or you can go for an option that uses a tanning lotion that increases the speed in which your tan develops. This lotion is known as a tan accelerator.
Tan accelerators work by introducing an amino acid into the body that triggers the over-production of melanin, a naturally occurring substance, when UV rays hit the skin. Normally, melanin is produced by the skin as a defense mechanism against the UV radiation that hits the body. Melanin production turns the skin the brown or tan color that many people are hoping to achieve.
When applying a tan accelerator the amount of melanin produced is increased which speeds up the tanning process. But there are a few down sides to the use of these accelerators.
The first is that you are still exposing your skin to the harmful UV rays. Admittedly the amount of time you need to spend in the sun to achieve a tan is reduced, but any time in the sun must be considered dangerous. The second problem is that the use of sunscreens tends to diminish the effects of the tan accelerator so many people opt not to apply their sunscreen. This means that the tanning is done without any protection to the skin at all. Finally, a tan accelerator is not an effective sunscreen in and of itself and should not be used for such a purpose.
There are many different types of tan accelerators for sale that contain a variety of ingredients aimed at making your skin look good. Make sure you choose the products that contain actual beneficial ingredients such as Vitamin A and Vitamin E as well as moisturizers and anti-oxidants. At least these ingredients will help to start the repair process if you have accidently exposed your skin to the sun for too long.
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