Consumer Health News

Self-tanning creams no protection against sunburn

May 22, 2006, 15:19 GMT

Hamburg ­ Self-tanning lotions are good at giving a healthy bronzed look but provide hardly any protection from the sun's rays.

The skin's pigment-producing cells are not activated by self- tanning products, says Waltraud Pfarrer, a doctor with one of Germany's largest health insurers, the DAK in Hamburg.

Many people erroneously assume the tanned look the lotion gives also provides them with satisfactory protection from sunburn.

Self-tanning creams can also cause allergies and Pfarrer advises putting a small amount of the lotion on the skin to see if a reaction occurs within the following 12 hours.

Self-tanners are available in a variety of forms including lotions, creams and sprays.

The latest product on the market at the moment is the self-tanning tissue. The tissues are individually wrapped and can be easily carried in a handbag.

Thoroughly cleansing the skin and removing dead cells before applying the lotion is the best way to prevent unsightly brown spots from forming on the skin.

The self-tanner should be applied by hand, rubbing the lotion slowly onto the skin with a circular motion.