Tanning Lotion - Tanning Lotion 101: What Is Dha?

DHA, which is scientifically known as dihydroxyacetone, is a main ingredient in many different sunless tanning lotions. You may see this ingredient listed in your sunless tanning lotion, but have you ever wondered what DHA is or how it helps you achieve a deep, golden looking tan.

Not a Paint, But A Reaction

Contrary to popular belief, DHA is not a dye or a paint. You might think that the DHA in your sunless tanning lotion is simply dying our skin. You might be shocked to learn that this is not the case. Rather, the DHA actually reacts with the amino acids that are in your skin. These amino acids are located in the dead layer of skin that is found on your skin's surface. When the amino acid and the DHA are mixed together, they cause a special reaction to occur. The special reaction that occurs when DHA mixes with your skin's amino acids is called the Maillard reaction.

You Aren't Food, But...

Before DHA was used in sunless tanning lotions, the Maillard reaction was a term used primarily to refer to the browning process that takes place when food is manufactured and stored. Whether referring to food or to your skin, this process does not require being exposed to ultraviolet rays and does not involve actually making a change to the skin's pigmentation. In addition, the process is non-toxic and, since it does not require UV exposure, it does not damage the skin in any way.

Nothing Lasts Forever

When you use DHA to help you achieve a tan, you can't expect the results to last forever. Rather, tans achieved with DHA begin to fade after application and generally fade completely away three to ten days after application. When DHA is combined with Erythrulose, however, the tan may last a bit longer. Erythrulose works in the same way as DHA, which is why the combination of the two ingredients helps to improve the effectiveness of the sunless tanning lotion.

Using Caution When Tanning

You may have noticed that some tanless sunning lotions brag about the fact that they do not have DHA. Since DHA is so effective at helping people achieve a great looking tan, you might wonder why some manufacturers would make sunless tanning lotions without DHA. The reality is that some people are allergic to DHA and experience skin problems when using products containing DHA. For this reason, you should test just a small area of your skin before applying it all over your body. After applying the lotion to a small area of your skin, wait 24 hours before moving on to your whole body.

Once you have confirmed that the lotion is safe for your skin, you can choose from a variety of products for sunless tanning. This includes lotions as well as gels, sprays, mousses, and wipes. With a little experimentation, you will surely find the one that works for you!