Melanin is a brown pigment that causes people to tan and prevents the skin from burning. UVB radiation causes people to burn by burning the top layer of skin. Darker skinned people tend not to burn as much as people with lighter skin because their skin contains more melanin naturally. There are many side effects of tanning. Skin cancer is one of the more dangerous side effects. A decreased immune system is another side effect. UVA rays can penetrate all the way down to blood vessels and nerves causing this decrease in immune function.

Other side effects of tanning include premature wrinkles, age spots, vision problems, and a leathery appearance to the skin. While skin cancer may take years to appear, wrinkles and other signs of prematurely aging can occur more quickly. People with darker skin are less likely to see the damage as soon as fairer skinned people. There are safer alternatives to tanning beds and outdoor tanning. There are many sunless sprays, lotions, and creams available. These products react with dead skin cells on the outermost surface of skin to produce a darker appearance. Results can be seen within an hour and the full effect within 24 hours. Sunless tans usually disappear with a week and can be gone sooner due to excessive washing or exfoliating of the skin. Precautions should be taken to protect the eyes during application, otherwise most sunless tanning products are generally regarded as safe. The only unpleasant side effect may be an orange tint to the skin caused by some brands of sunless tanning products.

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Article taken fromhttp://tanning-guided.com/