How to Get a Safe Tan

What is tan?

Tan is melanin pigment that produced by melanocytes in reaction to ultraviolet light in sunlight. The melanin production is different for each human body, the lowest production is found in Caucasian, in other races melanin production is continuous furthermore their skin is protected by melanin.

The skin

Protecting our skin from ultraviolet light is constantly needed, especially between 10 am to 15 pm, as we know that skin is an organ, this organ is our interface to the environment and sunlight. There are two part of skin the dermis and the epidermis, the dermis is the lower part it contains hair follicles, nerve endings, blood vessels, sweat glands and so on, in this part we can feel heat, cold, itch, pain and pressure. The epidermis has two main layers outer layer and inner layer. The outer layer is the dead skin cell that always regenerates periodically and constantly flaking off. The inner layer or Malpighian layer produces dead cells and melanocytes then melanocytes produces two different pigments: eumelanin that causes brown skin or tan and phaeomelanin causes yellow and red skin or melanoma.

How to get tan without getting melanoma

First way is physically way, you will not get tan in a short time, no pills and no injection. Stay in sunlight about 15 minutes, don’t forget to use moisturizer to avoid sunburn, do it repeatly. The melanocytes will be activated then start producing melanin and building up in your cell to protective level. Good result will be seen over 7 days. Two benefits are found by this way tanned skin and vitamin D for your bones.

Second way, use tan lotion that applied directly to skin. Some tan lotion has chemical ingredients some has natural ingredients. The lotion penetrates into epidermis and reaches the melanocytes then stimulates it to produce melanin that causes getting tanned skin.

Third way, taking oral tan pills that contained melanocytes-stimulating hormones (MSH), some pills are combined with variety of vitamins, and these pills are recommended to be taken at night before sleep.

Fourth way, Melanocytes-stimulating hormone (MSH) injection it flows through the bloodstream and reaches the melanocytes then stimulates it to produces a lot of melanin.

In conclusion, getting tan for your skin involves some organs of you body that probably causes some side effects, be sure contact your doctor before taking tan process especially if you choose oral and injection.

Sources: Timothy Gower, Reader Digest 2003; Linnea Lundgren, Living Well With Allergies. 2000.