The term indoor tanning lotion actually refers to lotions that are used during salon tanning and tanning beds. However, some people use this term to include sunless tanning products that come in lotion form. To progress in our analysis of the different types of indoor tanning lotions we have to make the distinction between lotions that produce a fake tan and lotions that assist in salon tanning.

Tanning Lotions That Produce Fake Tans

Tanning lotions that are dihyroxyacetone (DHA) based use the sugar compound to produce a coloration of the dead skin cells on the outer most layer of the skin. These are considered very safe means of temporary and fake tans. The DHA reacts when it comes into contact with the dead skin cells which produce the coloration.

Bronzers are like makeup in that they simply cover up or dye the skin a particular tone. Just like makeup it will wash off at the end of the day and can even rub off to stain clothing of the wearer.

Indoor Tanning Lotions for Salon Beds

There is another type of bronzer that actually serves another function which crosses over to the second type of indoor tanning lotions. This is a bronzer that actually improves the tanning process by absorbing and distributing the UV radiation for more evenly tanned results.

Another type of indoor tanning lotion that helps the natural tanning process is known as accelerators. These lotions act as moisturizers keeping the skin hydrated during the tanning experience. It speeds up the tanning process by making the skin more susceptible to the UV rays and the added moisture helps the skin’s melanin production.

Tingle lotions are similar to accelerators but instead of relying on moisture it actually has chemicals that cause an increase in blood flow to the skin. The increased blood flow brings extra oxygen and other nutrients to the skin to assist during the melanin production process during tanning.

There are many types of tanners and it is up the individual to decide whether they are going to be spending time tanning outdoors in the sun or indoors in a tanning booth and picking the appropriate tanning lotion for each scenario. Be sure not to use an indoor tanning lotion for sun tanning and vice versa unless the label specifically states that the lotion was designed for both functions. Or you could simply pick up a bottle of tanning lotion that produces a fake tan just for that season and reapply every few days to keep it consistent.

The other self-tanning options are tanning bronzers which work like make up. It just leaves a layer of stain on your skin and will come off at your next shower. Tanning lotions on the other hand can last over three days depending your rate of shedding dead skin cells.

In many cases, your tan actually looks more natural than laying out in the sun for hours because it can turn out more even and smooth. Also, you don’t have to worry about the tan lines of your fancy bathing suit. But the more important benefit of an indoor tanning lotion is the safety from avoiding exposure to harsh light rays.

Tanning booths can be very dangerous to inexperienced users, especially if the user naturally has very light, very sensitive skin. Tanning beds have settings that is far from dummy proofed so anybody can just as easily set themselves up to getting roasted.

Spending too much time in the sun can put you at risk of heat stroke. Too much UV rays on your skin puts you at risk of skin cancer. Sun bathers and tanning booth goers really have to check for skin spots and other signs of anomalies in their skin.

Ideally, people can just realize that fair skin is just as attractive as dark skin, and realize the health risks of tanning under ultraviolet rays. Until that day, indoor tanning lotions are the safest option.

It’s easy to mistaken tanning lotion with a sun block type product when in actuality it’s the other way around. Tanning lotion is not a sun block and offers zero protection from the sun. In fact, the purpose of tanning lotion is to increase your skins sensitivity to the ultraviolet rays which stimulates melanin production, thus, the name indoor tanning totion as most skins are required to stay indoors or risk over burning with the use of tanning lotion. For those people who have had cosmetic surgery face lifts, indoor tanning lotions are the only way to go since they can’t take in excessive UV rays for a while.

Many products also serve as a skin moisturizer, and why not when every skin could use more moistening. But it does not serve as a sun block. One person mentioned that everyone at the beach uses tanning lotion. No. Everyone at the beach may use sun block, if everyone at the beach used tanning lotions you might think a disease had gone viral eating at human skin.

So, to my non-Caucasian friends whose skin continuously produces melanin pigments, its understandable why you wouldn’t know exactly what tanning lotion does. But when white people ask what self-tanning solutions are good don’t make assumptions when you clearly never used a product or contributed to the bajillion dollar industry designed to take advantage of our western culture’s ridiculous obsession with tanned skin.

If any of you would like more information on a specific topic related to tanning lotions, please feel free to drop a comment and let us know. Thanks again for the visit and make sure to check back often to receive additional information on tanning lotion.