Would you like a tan? If you want to darken your skin to make yourself look more attractive than usual, it would be best to do some research first on which tanning process you should go through.

Tanning beds are a big no no. Contrary to what many claim, tanning beds are not a good alternative to sunlight. One has to remember that UV rays are harmful, wherever the radiation comes from. It would be best to use sunless tanning products if you want a golden glow without exposing oneself to harmful UV rays.

The Mayo Clinic says sunless tanning is a safe alternative to sunbathing. Sunless tanning is most definitely a practical alternative to sunbathing if you want to get a beautiful tan. The question is, how does sunless tanning work? There are a lot of sunless tanning products available in your local grocery stores, these products are also called self-tanners.

Sunless tanning products can give you a tan without exposing your skin to harmful UV rays. These products are commonly sold as lotions, sprays, gels and creams.

 If you do not want to apply them yourself for fear that it will not  turn out well, you can always go to a salon and have professional spray-on tanning done.

The active ingredient in these tanning products is DHA. DHA temporarily darkens the skin’s dead cells and makes one look naturally tan. The coloring does not wash off of course but it will fade away at some point as the dead skin are sloughed off.

Apart from topical solutions, there are also sunless tanning pills but according to the Mayo Clinic, sunless tanning pills are not safe for use and if used in excess will make your skin turn orange. Turning orange is just an aesthetic drawback though because sunless tanning pills can also lead to liver damage and to the formation of crystals in the eye (also called canthaxanthin retinopathy).

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