Today, everyone knows that you need to use SPF sun protection cream when spending time at the beach on a sunny day or travelling to a sunny country. However, how much is known about tanning indoors and the necessity of using sun creams? Especially when you are aware of your extreme sensitivity to certain ingredients that may be contained these creams. Let’s talk about possible allergies to tanning creams!?
The skin requires daily skincare
The skin is one of our largest organs, active tissue, which, being in constant contact with the surrounding environment, acts as a protective barrier – it protects the body against external impact and keeps the internal environment of the system balanced. As the skin ages, the activity of the sebaceous glands and sweat glands decreases, and the amounts of triglycerides and sterol esters in the skin declines. Dry skin can also be caused by atopic dermatitis, various chronic diseases, the lack of microelements and indispensable fatty acids in the body, as well as the use of medication. Therefore, skincare is more than simply cosmetic. Proper skincare preserves the health of the skin, maintains its self-healing power and makes the skin beautiful.
Tanning creams not only protect but also care for the skin
Unfortunately, a misunderstanding has spread about the use of SPF creams at the beach and the use of tanning creams as indoors, namely that they both primarily protect your skin against the sun. This is not true. Unlike SPF sun protection creams, moisturising skincare is the main purpose of the tanning creams used in solariums. The moisturisers in the creams create a temporary protective barrier for the damaged horny layer of the skin (the skin’s most superficial layer), thereby giving it time to recover. These creams heal the skin’s protective barriers, reduce the loss of liquids through damaged skin, and restore the intercellular lipids that attract, store and distribute moisture in the epidermis. They also make the skin smoother, softer and healthier. The moisturisers available in most salons contain water and oil, but other ingredients are also added that help to improve the moisturising properties. They also help to accelerate healing, as well as better achieve a uniform and beautiful tanning result. A very wide range of products is available including creams for allergy sufferers.
What is an allergy?
An allergy is an organism’s emergency reaction to a usually harmless substance (allergen) that is inducing the production of antibodies by the immune system. This is the immune system’s hypersensitivity to a substance that is accompanied by a variety of symptoms (e.g. reddened, itchy and flaking skin).
Can allergies be prevented or avoided? If so, how?
First of all, a distinction must be made between an irritation and an allergy. If a reaction immediately develops when tanning cream is applied to the skin (reddening, blisters, itching, flaking, tightening, etc.), you are usually dealing with an irritation. On the other hand, an allergy (itching, reddening, flaking, swelling, cracks, crusts) develops slowly, and takes weeks, and sometimes even years. If you know that their body is hypersensitive to certain substances, we recommend that you test a sample before purchasing the tanning cream. Although the reddening may only appear after three or four tanning sessions, and not immediately. The best place to test sensitivity is on the inside of the hand or around the ears.
The allergens in tanning creams versus the alternatives
The tanning creams available in tanning salons do not generally cause an allergic reaction, but sensitive and allergic skin may get irritated by fragrances, nut oil, hempseed oil and/or gluten. At the same time, there is no guarantee that if you avoid certain substances, allergies will never develop. On the other hand, these components also have many good qualities when used in creams. For example, of the nut oils, almond, kukui nut and macadamia nut oil are widely used in tanning creams. The complex of natural vitamins contains some of the best moisturisers for dry skin and rejuvenators of aging skin. Hempseed oil is a popular ingredient used in various cosmetic products since it heals, treats and pampers skin, binds moisture and battles the signs of aging. Gluten, which is present in the natural components of tanning creams, does not create an allergic reaction when it comes in contact with the skin. However, it can be harmful if put in one’s mouth or swallowed.
If you know that you are allergic to nut oil and/or hempseed oil extracts, or gluten, you should choose the hypoallergenic products sold in the tanning salons, or those that are free of fragrances, nut oil, hempseed oil and/or gluten:
Australian Gold Beachin
AG Totally Beachin™
Australian Gold Superior™ Intensifier
Australian Gold Superior™ DHA Bronzer™
Kardashian Glow Naturally Dark Bronzer
Kardashian Glow Platinum Bronzer