Indoor Tanning Lotion

An increasing amount of people (especially women) are looking at, or are using an indoor tanning lotion for a way to get a tan.  Tanning indoors holds an appeal because people want to tan without the risk of being exposed to damaging sunlight that can cause burning and even skin cancer.

Indoor tanning lotions are different to suntan lotions or sunblock.  They have no sun protection factor (SPF).  It is up to those who use these tanning lotions to decide if they want to use these lotions when outside and exposed to sunlight.  The fact is that instead of providing protection to the skin from UV (ultraviolet) rays, indoor tanning lotions actually increase the effect of ultraviolet light rather than blocking it, and are meant to be used indoors, as their name suggests, on properly timed tanning beds.  Spending long periods of time outside after application can cause uncontrolled exposure and damage the skin.

As well as using them for self tanning, many people use these lotions to combat the dehydration of their skin, and so the moisturising effects that they contain enable many people who tan often, to use these lotions and as an effective moisturiser after tanning.

Some of these indoor tanning lotions produce a slight tingling sensation on the skin once they have been applied.  This is caused by chemicals within the lotion that stimulate blood flow to the applied area.  The blood flows to the skin faster than is usual and this increase in blood flow brings about an increase in melanin (the chemical which provides your skin’s colour).  The more melanin that is exposed to the sunbed UV the more of a tan one gets.  Different people have different reactions to the tingle with some reporting no tingle at all.

For those who do not enjoy the tingle or are worried and uncomfortable with it, there are those lotions that actually contain melanin and do not cause the tingling effect.  Other additives in are natural oils such as primrose oil, which help with the moisture retention of the skin.  This aids with preventing dehydration.  The chemical DHA (dihydroxyacetone) is also found in most lotions and is one ingredient that enables the indoor tanning lotion to give your skin that wonderful tanned, bronze look.