Is there any harm from self-tanning, contraindications and precautions?

Especially for those who do not have time to sunbathe on the beach, cosmetics have been developed that allow you to get a beautiful golden or bronze skin tone without the participation of ultraviolet radiation. Self-tanner provides an even tan a few hours after application and retains the result for up to three weeks. The most important thing is to choose cosmetics from leading manufacturers that guarantee impeccable quality and safety for human health. Next, we will take a closer look at how self-tanning works, its benefits and harms.

Self-tanning: harm and benefit

Self-tanning: harm or benefit?

We need to learn how to properly use special cosmetics that we use to treat exposed skin to get a beautiful tan with maximum benefits for the body. Most self-tanners contain natural ingredients, namely sugar beet or cane extract, which provide a golden, bronze or chocolate-colored skin tone. However, there are reasons to think carefully.

The main disadvantages of self-tanning:

Such cosmetics provide only an even tan and do not protect the skin from the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation.
The composition may contain alcohol, which accelerates the drying process of cells. Eventually, premature wrinkles appear.
In addition, allergic reactions to the main components of cosmetics may occur. Therefore, before use, you should carefully read the composition on the package and test the product on a small area of skin. If the first negative reactions appear on the skin, you should stop using self-tanning.
Products with a thick consistency can clog pores, leading to the development of acne.
During pregnancy, the main elements of self-tanning can penetrate through the blood to the fetus, negatively affecting its development.

Original high-quality self-tanning: harmful or not

Does self-tanning benefit or harm the skin? Such products contain mainly components of plant origin that do not harm the skin. In this case, you should carefully read the composition in order to promptly identify harmful components that cause allergic reactions.

In addition, you need to pay attention to the manufacturer. Leading manufacturers necessarily test their cosmetics, check the safety of the main components and have quality certificates. Products of unknown origin can be harmful to health. Therefore, you should not buy self-tanning products from dubious stores that cannot guarantee safety. Before use, be sure to test any cosmetics on a small area of skin in order to notice negative reactions in time.

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In addition, most consumers mistakenly believe that self-tanning not only turns the skin a beautiful chocolate shade, but also protects against the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation. In fact, this is not true. On the contrary, dark skin attracts the sun's rays, which can lead to dry skin and sunburn. To avoid all these unpleasant symptoms, it is recommended to choose a self-tanner with protective filters from the sun. Otherwise, you need to protect your body with clothing or sunscreen cosmetics.

Long-term use of self-tanning due to the content of alcohols or other chemical elements can lead to dry skin. Body moisturizers will help correct the situation.

Nuances of using the cream

To get the desired result, you should take into account the recommendations of specialists:

Prepare the skin in advance. It must be clean and dry. It is advisable to scrub, especially dry and rough areas.
You need to bathe with soft gels and a washcloth. Aggressive products may cause uneven rinsing.
Apply only to dry skin in a cool room to prevent the body from sweating. After a shower you need to wait 20-30 minutes.
Self-tanning cream should only be applied with special gloves. In addition, hands, elbows and knees should be pre-moistened and lubricated only for the second use.
Hair removal should also be done at least a day before self-tanning.
It is advisable not to divide the body into zones, but to immediately cover it with an even layer. Apply the self-tanner in a thin layer. This way there will be no transitions or boundaries.
Hair must be removed from the face and a special strip must be worn. Self-tanning on the face should be applied as carefully as possible, especially if the hair is light.
There is no need to buy products that are too cheap and from unknown manufacturers, as the effect of them can be unpredictable.
Some people have doubts about whether self-tanning is harmful to the face. If you use special products for this area, the product is completely harmless. Self-tanning for the face contains more delicate pigment particles.

We recommend reading the article about choosing between a solarium and self-tanning. From it you will learn what is better - self-tanning or solarium, what is more harmful for the body, whether self-tanning can really replace a solarium and alternative methods. And here is more information about self-tanning on the face.

When asked whether auto-bronzant is harmful, the answer is no. Such means have their own disadvantages and nuances. But when used correctly, the harm is much less than from the sun and solarium. By choosing a quality product, you can get a beautiful and even tan at any time of the year.

Contraindications and precautions

Self-tanning is not recommended for use in the following cases:

Skin diseases of chronic origin, such as eczema, diathesis or psoriasis. Application may affect the development of the disease and aggravate the situation.
Scratches, cracks, pimples, open wounds.
Self-tanning with a thick consistency can clog pores and cause acne.
Malignant tumors, pigment spots and other neoplasms on the skin.
During pregnancy and lactation, you should definitely consult a specialist.

TOP 15 best products

Name	Photo	Price in rubles
Sublime Bronze Airbrush by L'Oreal	580-600
Nivea Sun	350
Complete Care from Olay	up to 300
Solid self-tanning oil Solbianca	900
Lancome Flash Bronzer	1300
Gelee Auto-Bronzante Express by Clarins	1200-1300
Magic Tan from Avon	200
Garnier Ambre Solaire “Even tan”	500
Bronze Self-Tanner Shimmering Glow by Dior	almost 1500
Floresan Self-tanning milk-express	100
Sun Zone Self-Tanning Mist Body by Oriflame	250
Bronze Nature by Yves Rocher	600-650
Self-tanning cream Sun Care	350
Summer Glow by Dove	up to 200
Self-tanners “Moriz”	120

What is more harmful: self-tanning or solarium?

Can I use self-tanner?

This question interests everyone who cares about the health of their skin.

Most self-tanning manufacturers use ingredients of natural origin, which, when interacting with the skin, provide a beautiful tan. In this case, the skin must be clean, without defects, in order to ultimately obtain a uniform shade.

It is harmful to use self-tanning when there is a risk of allergic reactions, open wounds or other defects on the skin. In addition, self-tanning tends to come off along with dry skin cells and can irritate the epidermis. During pregnancy, active components have the ability to penetrate through the blood to the fetus, negatively affecting its proper development. Therefore, you need to choose self-tanner only from trusted manufacturers and test it before use.

It is also interesting How to tan without a solarium and the sun, folk methods, instant tanning

Compared to self-tanning, a tan obtained in a solarium lasts three times longer on the skin, which is its significant advantage.

Useful video

Watch the video about how self-tanning works and the dangers of self-tanning:

Benefits of self-tanning

Benefits of self-tanning:

You can get a beautiful tan without the negative effects of ultraviolet rays. This is the first and significant advantage of self-tanning compared to natural tanning and solariums. The cosmetics contain extracts of sugar beet or cane, which react with skin cells, providing a beautiful shade.
Within a few hours after applying the product, a bronze, golden or chocolate tint appears on the skin. To get this result in a solarium you need to attend several sessions.
In addition, the cost of self-tanning is several times lower compared to a solarium.
There is no need to leave home, waste time and money on travel, to get a beautiful tan at home.

Disadvantages of self-tanning

Self-tanning products also have disadvantages, namely:

During the first erg, you need to carefully prepare the body to get an even shade. If you do not follow the instructions from the manufacturer, stains and smudges will appear on the body.
It is not always possible to carry out the procedure for applying a cosmetic product on your own. For example, to apply the product to your back, you need outside help.
In addition, it is not always possible to guess the end result. Skin tone can be darker or lighter. Therefore, before use, you should definitely test cosmetics on a small area of skin to evaluate the color and identify side effects in time.
It should be remembered that the effect of the substance may cause allergic reactions. In addition to natural dyes, self-tanning may contain chemical compounds that cause skin irritation. Therefore, before using any cosmetic product, it is recommended to test it on a small area of skin.
Cheap cosmetics last on the skin for 3 to 5 days. Self-tanning products from leading brands guarantee a beautiful tan for up to three weeks.
Failure to properly care for your skin can result in the color peeling off in chunks. Spots and streaks will appear.
After applying self-tanning, you should not use scrubs or take hot baths with hard lips.
The composition may contain alcohol, which negatively affects the water balance of skin cells. In other words, the cells begin to dry out and die. Therefore, you need to use body moisturizers.
Self-tanning can peel off unevenly, leaving unsightly spots on the body.
Self-tanning does not protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation. Of course, you can find cosmetics with protective filters for sensitive skin. These factors need to be taken into account when choosing a self-tanner.
Self-tanning can leave stains on clothing. You need to wait until it dries completely and only then put on clothes. It is best to carry out the procedure in the morning.

Also interesting: How to choose a self-tanner for the body, advantages, disadvantages and contraindications

Benefits of a solarium

The main advantages of a solarium:

You can visit the solarium at any time of the year and do not need to travel to warm countries.
Solariums use artificial ultraviolet rays, which have a similar effect to the sun's rays.
In a solarium you can get a healthy dose of vitamin D, which is responsible for the strength of the musculoskeletal system.
In just a few sessions you can get a beautiful tan without the sun.
The tan lasts on the skin for several months if you care for it properly.
The duration of the procedure does not exceed 10 minutes. Two to three sessions per week are enough to achieve the desired result.