Ask the doctor: Are sunless tanning products safe?
You can buy self-tanning products over the counter and apply them yourself, or you can go to a salon that offers spray-on or airbrush tans. The active ingredient in all of these products is dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a color additive often derived from plant sources that's approved by the FDA for tanning purposes. DHA binds to proteins in the top layer of skin, causing it to darken or stain. Thicker, protein-rich areas of your skin will stain more, so for more even results, you should exfoliate the skin of the elbows, knees, and ankles beforehand, using a washcloth, sponge, or loofah, for example. Because the coloring process takes place only in the surface layers of the skin, your "tan" lasts only as long as those layers stay on your body—five to seven days. After they slough off, you'll need a reapplication.
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