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Getting a Tan

Tanning Pills
With many innovative new ways to acquire a suntan, the market for aesthetic enhancers have now moved on to self tanning creams, bronzers and the fairly new method of ingesting tanning pills.  All sunless tanning products are designed to be an alternative to sitting under the sun, in order to avoid the many dangers, which have been regularly pointed out.

It is the production of melanin under the surface of the skin, which will affect how much of a suntan you are able to get. It is these melanin granules, which, when exposed to UV rays, react and change color to produce the bronzed beach look that many crave.

It has been suggested that by stimulating the genesis of melanin, it will be possible to achieve stronger, longer lasting, yet natural looking tans. Exposure to sunlight helps with the production of melanin, but even then, how much is produced will be largely determined by what lies deep within your genetic make up.

The melanin inside one’s skin helps to protect you from the harmful radiation emitted by the sun, by purposely sitting there, and absorbing as much of the UV rays it finds coming its way.  With heavier absorption, the skin will take on that darker suntanned look.

Tanning pills were designed to artificially promote the production of melanin as well as containing coloring additives, similar to that which is found within carrots.  These additives get spread throughout the body and absorbed into the skin by the melanin, which is present.  There have been concerns that some of the coloring agents, though approved for food, have not been approved for usage in tanning.

There has been much debate over the effectives and the safety of such tanning pills, with belief that melanin can only be produced by UV rays, and that the coloring agents can cause damage internally to organs such as the liver.  Reports have also raised issues and concerns about whether the coloring agent will turn all internal organs, including the brain, orange too.

The key ingredient to watch out for appears to be Canthaxanthin, which is a component of many of the leading tanning pills.  Independent medical reports have raised scrutiny over its safety, and while small doses are used as a coloring agent safely in food, the levels within tanning pills are much higher. 

Before taking a tanning pill, it may be well worth investigating other tested and safe methods first.  Using your own discretion from knowledge acquired through research will let you formulate your own conclusion. The jury seems to still be out on the safety and effectiveness of tanning pills, but it is a matter of fact that sales continue to increase as they offer their easy solution.
 
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