Sunless Tanning Science
Brief History of Sunless
1920's Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is discovered by mistake by scientists who noticed that spilling some on their hands caused the skin to turn "brown".
1960's Coppertone marketed as "Quick Tan" as an overnight tanning cream. ManTan and others soon came to market with very bad results. The formulation and quality of the active ingredient DHA was very poor and the products were soon abandoned for lack of consumer demand.
1980's new formulas began to appear with some improvement in such products as "Tan Overnight". During this time the UV Tanning bed was beginning to gain in popularity and tanning salons began springing up everywhere. The health concerns and epidemic of Skin Cancer were not known and the profits from the UV Tanning business were very high. The sunless tanning industry was once again on "hold" until the mid-1990's.
1990's Pioneer of the Spray Tan Booth Dr. Laughlin begins intensive experimentation and perfection of liquid DHA formulations. He focused on developing a formula that could be sprayed through an automated booth. Receives many patents for his "Mist-On" tanning booth and licenses rights to his patent technology to "MysticTan". Due to wide consumer interest in an alternative tanning method due to the damaging affects of UV rays, the Sunless Industry is officially born.
2000's Dozens of UV tanning lotion manufacturers begin marketing sunless products en masse with dozens of start-up competitors. Wide range of equipment and application systems start to appear on the market and in industry shows. Hollywood and CNN take notice and 100's of media stories begin to appear. NBC's Friends does a show featuring Ross getting a SprayTan and the industry is officially passed the "fad" stage and growing into a serious competitor to the UV tanning industry. Dozens of reports are issued and studies published regarding the harmful affects of UV exposure and the skin cancer epidemic it ahs caused.
Regulations are issued by States and Government regulators banning and restricting the use of UV Tanning beds, especially to minors. Studies published by Skin Cancer Foundation prove tanning beds cause cancer at a rate of 1.5-2.5 x's times greater than the sun. Salons and Spas begin to offer more sunless tanning services to provide for wide consumer demand.
2004 Sunless Beauty Ltd. launches Solerra to the Professional Salon and Spa industry using advanced pharmaceutical technology. Under development for over 8 years with millions invested Solerra launches Sunless Silk featuring the Invisicare polymer delivery system. Results are dramatically improved and negative side affects of DHA are eliminated. Wide consumer demand propels industry and major UV-tanning manufacturers invest primary sales and marketing budgets into sunless tanning segment.
What is Sunless Tanning?
Sunless tanning is the process of applying cream, lotion, or spray to the skin topically to cause a semi-permanent change in the tint/color in the outer layer (a.k.a. – "a tan"). The desired tan normally lasts 2-10 days depending on the type of product and method used in application.
Tanning pills are NOT included in the category of sunless tanners and are considered highly dangerous and experimental by virtually every regulating and medical agency.
How Does It Work?
The most common active ingredient in sunless tanners today is DIHYDROXYACETONE. (DHA) works by reacting with the keratin protein in the outer [or "dead"] layer of your skin. This is why the results are temporary; this outer layer of skin is continually exfoliating. DHA in sunless tanners is refined from a vegetable source, most likely sugar beets or sugar cane. Discovered to be a temporary skin coloring agent back in the 1920s, DHA was first sold in an over the counter sunless tanning product in 1960 as Coppertone Quick Tan, also known as QT. In the 1970s the Food and Drug Administration added DHA to their list of approved cosmetic ingredients.
Then, in the late 1980s, the cosmetic companies found a way to produce better results [browner, less orange] with DHA. The secret: an improved refining process yielded higher quality, more predictable DHA. Since then, DHA has been further improved, leading to the current explosion of products.
However, there are still many problems with even absorption, even application and most formulas are simple water and/or alcohol based mixtures. This type of delivery system can cause the amount of DHA absorbed into the skin to vary dramatically (un-even absorption). In addition, the percentage of DHA in the formulation will determine the depth of color (darkness of the tan). Most manufacturers using a high percentage of DHA in their formula advertising "Dark Results" often cause the skin to have an "orange" hue or tinge. This is due to the poor delivery system of water and/or alcohol as they "dump" the entire amount into the skin as it is applied (literally an overdose of the cells). More advanced pharmacology has been developed to aid in delivery of DHA eliminating the problems of the water and/or alcohol based delivery systems.
ERYTHRULOSE is also used by some manufacturers as an additive to counter some of the negative side affects of water/alcohol based delivery systems. It is a natural keto-sugar which reacts with free primary or secondary amino groups (Maillard's reaction). This reaction with free amino groups of the amino acids of keratin in the skin leads to the DHA-driven formation of brownish polymers, the so-called melanoids (a tan effect on the skin). It is an attempt to counter the negative results from water/alcohol based delivery systems. The properties of Erythrulose have been documented in complex in vivo studies. Erythrulose is a clear, yellowish, preservative-free solution of a biotechnologically produced, chiral carbohydrate. The manufacturing process of pure Erythruloseincludes the aerobic fermentation of the bacterium Gluconobacter followed by several purification steps.
The result of studies show Erythrulose takes 24-48 hours to begin its affects. By that time most sunless tanners have been washed off. It may have a positive result in reducing some of the drying affects caused by alcohol and DHA. Used in combination with a pharmaceutical delivery system Erythrulose may prove to add some value to sunless products. Erythrulose is not currently approved by the FDA.
Is it Safe?
Yes! DHA has been in use in cosmetics for over 30 years! It's derived from all natural ingredients and only affects the out layer of skin which is renewing (dead cells) itself everyday. DHA has been approved by the FDA the Canadian Health Ministry and most of the EU member nations.
Sunless tanning has been recommended by Skin Cancer Foundation, American Dermatology Association, Canadian Dermatology Association and American Medical Association. You can read an in depth report from the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention for more information.
The Solerra Advantage
Solerra, Sunless Tanning Science was developed by a team of pharmaceutical engineers striving to develop the perfect tanning solutions. Over 8 years and millions of dollars were invested in the research and development of the Invisicare polymer delivery system.
Incorporating the latest in anti-aging technologies Solerra formulations are known to reduce oxidants and free-radicals. Focus groups have proved Sunless Silk line of tanners are known to last longer and produce more even-natural looking results than any other product available today.
Produced in FDA approved facilities the quality of Solerra products sets a new standard in sunless tanning. We have invented a whole new class and are Leading the Sunless Evolution with patented, pharmaceutical-grade, environmentally safe products. Recommended by dermatologists and leading skin cancer experts, sunless tanning is now the standard for tanning. UV tanning is a harmful and risky alternative.
Learn more about exciting development and the Invisicare difference here.