There are different methods of skin tanning such as direct and intense sunlight from the sun for long periods, tanning beds, strong chemicals being used in various "sunless tanning" methods tanning booths, tanning lotions, cremes, gels, sprays, airbrush tanning, and tanning mousse.
Many consider skin tanning and the use of selfless tanners as "safe" in comparison to skin lightening and that there is no similarity between these two methods. I beg to differ, as there are safe and unsafe mehods for skin lightening an applaud the cosmetic chemists who continue to test and research additonal various methods of effective and yet safe skin lightening.
Dangers of Skin Tanning:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received reports of reactions associated with DHA in spray tanning booths and is unapproved by the FDA, as an all over body spray. The FDA strongly cautions avoidance of internal exposure by inhalation or ingestion through the eyes, lips and mucous membrane. The FDA does not approve of canthaxanthin, as a simulation tanner and warns of its misuse.
Canthaxanthin has been associated with canthaxanthin-induced retinopathy, the formation of crystals in the eyes, resulting in decreased visual acuity. This condition may persist for up to seven years after discontinuation of canthaxanthin. Reactions reported to the FDA associated with canthaxanthin include: nausea, cramping, diarrhea, severe itching, welts and rashes. Reactions associated with DHA include: coughing, dizziness and fainting.
What Are the Dangers of Sunless Tanning?
Canthaxanthin: A chemical commonly used in tanning pills in order to "darken" the appearance of the skin and can "cause eye damage and liver injury. “Safe” sugar-based sunless tanning creams are still chock full of parabens, propylene glycol.
Extracted From The Big List of Things That Suck:
EcoStiletto : The Big List of Things That Suck
Sunless Tanners and Bronzers
Canthaxanthin is the classic tanning pill ingredient.
It's completely illegal to make or sell tanning pills based on Canthaxanthin.
Canthaxanthin was one of the ingredients in the tanning pills. I sent her the list of possible side effects: liver damage, jaundice.
- "I was shocked to get an email back from her informing me they weren't her pills, but the pills of a friend who was in the hospital with what the doctors had diagnosed as hepatitis. She had been asked to go through his medication, where she found the illegal tanning pills, and was worried that they may have contributed to his illness.
Sunless Tanning: Facts And Myths - Page Two
A Few Of The Safe Skin Lightening Agents:
1. Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, etc)
2. Alpha Arbutin (4-Hydroxyphenyl-D-lucopyranoside)
3. DeoxyArbutin
4. Kojic Acid
5. Mulberry Root (Morus Alba)
6. Beta Arbutin (Bearberry Extract; aka Arbutin)
7 Mequinol (used properly along w/ a retinol; aka 4-Methoxyphenol)
8. Glutathione (intravenouslyin proper & not orally; aka GSH & γ-L-Glutamyl-L-cysteinylglycine)
9. Emblica (Phyllanthus Emblica)
10. Licorice Root (Glabridin)
11. Papaya (Papain)
12. Sepiwhite (Undecylenoyl phenylalanine)
13. Vitamin A (Retinol)
14. AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acid; ex. lactic and glycolic)
15. Hydroquinone (used properly & not abused & use alng w/ a retinol; aka Benzene-1,4-diol)
16. Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide)
17. Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine)
18. Bearberry (Arctostaphylose Uva-ursi)
19. Tyrostat
20. MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane; aka Sufulr)
21. Allantoin (gentle exfoliant)
22. Sodium Lactate (Increases & accelerates the action of Vitamin C and its derivatives)
23. Lemon extract (Citrus Medica Limonum)
24. Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract
25. Paeonia suffruticosa
Extracted from the following:
Wiley InterScience :: Skin Lightening Agents
Enzymatic Synthesis of the Skin-lightening Agent, Melatonin, in Amphibians
Sodium Lactate