Skin tanning is the process by which skin is made to attain a darker appearance than the normal one, called a tan. This can be done in a natural way by exposing oneself to the UV rays of the sun or using man-made products, which is called sunless tanning. Methods not involving the sun have become more widespread among many people after doctors discovered the role of UV in skin cancer.
One method of tanning skin from ultraviolet radiation is by basking in sunlight, in a leisure activity called sunbathing. This is most common and arguably most convenient way to get skin tanned. The effectiveness and speed of suntan can be enhanced by another phenomenon called windburn. Windburn is a process where wind removes a layer of skin that filters out UV rays leading to a more pronounced tanning.
UV radiation is also emitted by a piece of equipment called a sunbed which can be used to make skin get tanned as though it were exposed to sunlight. Sunbeds, also called tanning beds, produce artificial UV rays like those in sunlight through phosphor-laced lamps. The bulk of the rays produced by sunbeds are UV A rays but a few are UV B rays. The device is like an artificial way of sunbathing.
A skin can also be tanned without the sun or any UV radiation. Techniques of getting skin tanned without sunlight are called fake tanning or UV-free tanning. This method will involve use of chemicals either orally or topically to cause the skin to tan as though it was exposed to UV radiation.
Pills containing beta-carotene have become very useful for non-UV tanning because they produce a lasting effect and protect against sunburn. Sunburn is the discoloring of the skin due to excessive exposure to sunlight. Beta-carotene produces a better skin tone than sun tanning and eliminates the risk of cancer posed by the sun.
Other types of products for fake skin tanning do exist and these are also pills but containing other compounds besides beta-carotene as main ingredients. None of the products is preferred to products containing beta-carotene, however. Many people also use temporary methods of achieving a tan such as powders and creams that can be washed off easily using water during a bath.
One method of tanning skin from ultraviolet radiation is by basking in sunlight, in a leisure activity called sunbathing. This is most common and arguably most convenient way to get skin tanned. The effectiveness and speed of suntan can be enhanced by another phenomenon called windburn. Windburn is a process where wind removes a layer of skin that filters out UV rays leading to a more pronounced tanning.
UV radiation is also emitted by a piece of equipment called a sunbed which can be used to make skin get tanned as though it were exposed to sunlight. Sunbeds, also called tanning beds, produce artificial UV rays like those in sunlight through phosphor-laced lamps. The bulk of the rays produced by sunbeds are UV A rays but a few are UV B rays. The device is like an artificial way of sunbathing.
A skin can also be tanned without the sun or any UV radiation. Techniques of getting skin tanned without sunlight are called fake tanning or UV-free tanning. This method will involve use of chemicals either orally or topically to cause the skin to tan as though it was exposed to UV radiation.
Pills containing beta-carotene have become very useful for non-UV tanning because they produce a lasting effect and protect against sunburn. Sunburn is the discoloring of the skin due to excessive exposure to sunlight. Beta-carotene produces a better skin tone than sun tanning and eliminates the risk of cancer posed by the sun.
Other types of products for fake skin tanning do exist and these are also pills but containing other compounds besides beta-carotene as main ingredients. None of the products is preferred to products containing beta-carotene, however. Many people also use temporary methods of achieving a tan such as powders and creams that can be washed off easily using water during a bath.
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