Medical Questions » Alternative Medicine Questions » Question No. 1430
| Question: | Can supplements help you tan? |
| Answer: | Supplements containing carotenoids such as beta-carotene do have the effect of slightly coloring the skin as if you had a mild tan. You need about 20mg of beta-carotene a day for this effect, or just quaff a glass of carrot juice. The other way to get a fake tan is to use a skin cream containing dihydroxyacetone. This reacts with amino acids in the skin to provide an orange-brown shade after about three hours. It also provides some protection from harmful UVA rays. The best products also moisturize the skin and provide a guaranteed sun protection factor (try Dermalogica' s Protective Self Tan SPF 15, for example - see www.dermalogica.com).
Either method is preferable to getting a suntan. Tanning ages the skin rapidly and increases the risk for skin cancer, especially if you have pale skin, red hair or a lot of moles. The worst combination is to drink alcohol and then get sunburnt, because alcohol suppresses the immune system' s ability to repair DNA damage caused by intense sunlight. Supplementing a good antioxidant formula not only protects you from the damaging effects of sunlight but also gives you some beta-carotene for that natural glow. |
|
|
