Self-Tanning and melasma– Everything You Should Know
Many people suffer from different skin conditions that affect their self-esteem and how they view themselves.
While many of these skin conditions are irreversible and often worsen, there are ways to conceal them.
The effects of melasma can leave many women feeling self-conscious about their skin and appearance.
Luckily, there are ways to even out the skin tone, resulting in a more natural and healthy appearance.
Self-tanning is one of the better options available, as you can choose and control the level of darkness you want your tan to achieve.
However, many women wonder if it is actually safe to use self-tanner with melasma, and whether there is a chance it could make the melasma worse.
What is Melasma?
Melasma is a fairly common skin condition which appears as brown and grayish-brown patches on the face.
It appears mostly on the face, concentrated on the cheeks, the bridge of the nose, the chin, and the upper lip.
Melasma spots can also appear on other areas of the body, particularly in areas where the skin is frequently exposed to sunlight.
Melasma patches are often symmetrical on the face, with both sides of the face having matching markings.
Melasma is more prevalent in females and often occurs during pregnancy.
A survey from the American Academy of Dermatology shows that 90 percent of people who suffer from melasma are women.
While melasma isn’t harmful, it does cause many people to feel self-conscious about their appearance.
What Causes Melasma?
There isn’t one definitive cause of melasma, but certain elements can affect the skin’s pigmentation, leading to melasma patches.
Individuals with darker skin are more susceptible to melasma than those with lighter skin.
Many women with sensitivity to estrogen and progesterone may find that birth control, pregnancy, and hormone therapy can all cause an appearance of melasma.
It is also seen that excessive stress and thyroid issues can bring about the onset of melasma as well.
One of the primary contributors to melasma is exposure to the sun.
The ultraviolet rays of the sun can affect the melanocytes, which are the cells responsible for producing pigment, causing them to produce more pigment and turn darker.
Can Self-Tanner Make Melasma Appear Darker?
Many women with melasma find that the condition makes them self-conscious about their appearance, as the darker spots stand out against the rest of their skin.
Self-tanner appears to be a good option for blending the darker patches with the rest of the skin, but some worry that the self-tanning lotion might actually accentuate the darker spots.
Luckily, self-tanner will not make the melasma patches darker. Self-tanners contain an active ingredient called DHA, which does not actually affect the skin’s pigmentation.
DHA works by staining the outermost layer of the skin, known as the epidermis.
The stain is temporary and will not leave a lasting darker tone on the darker areas caused by melasma.
Does Self-Tanner Help Cover Melasma?
If applied properly and with care, self-tanner should not worsen the appearance of melasma. Self-tanning products contain DHA, which only reacts with the outer layer of dead skin; this is why self-tanners must be applied frequently.
The DHA should not darken the melasma more than it darkens the rest of your skin.
It will darken in correlation with the rest of your skin, so while the patches might get slightly darker, they will probably be less noticeable with the rest of your darkened skin. This applies to self-tanner being used on your face and the rest of your body.
The Best Self-Tanners for Melasma
If you are concerned about using any self-tanning lotion to help cover melasma, here are some of the best options available on the market.
They offer excellent coverage and remain gentle and hydrating for the skin.
1. Skinerals Self-Tanner
The Skinerals brand is one of the most gentle on the skin. It contains mainly natural and organic ingredients, rather than harsh chemicals that could cause damage.
With the Skinerals Self-Tanner, you will be left with a glowing, beautifully even tone that is streak-free and not blotchy.
It suits all skin types and is ideal for covering any darker patches. After each use, your skin will be gorgeously bronzed, but also smooth and fresh.
2. Beauty by Earth Self-Tanner
Beauty by Earth offers this effective self-tanner, saving you from blotchy patches and orange streaks.
It is all natural and cruelty-free, so you know it contains only the best ingredients to help transform and protect your skin.
You will be left with an incredibly gorgeous glow that takes your skin from boring to glam, and because of its natural ingredients, you won’t be left with a strange, orange tinge.
The natural ingredients will help nourish your skin, which is what you need when melasma is present.
3. St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse
For a lightweight and easy-to-use self-tanner, this is a great option. It is super lightweight, making it perfect for use on the face.
It dries in 60 seconds, allowing you to continue with your beauty routine as usual without waiting for ages for your self-tanner to dry.
The St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse provides a streak-free, natural-looking glow that suits all skin types.
It will help smooth out darker patches, making the skin appear more even with the rest of the complexion.
The ingredients are gentle and will help nourish the skin while making it look summer-ready.
4. Tan Physics True Color Sunless Tanner
This self-tanner will give you a flawless and stunningly authentic-looking tan. It will hydrate the skin and replenish it with its natural ingredients.
The self-tanner helps you achieve a natural-looking tan with its correcting tints and full-coverage color.
The correcting tints help even out the tone of your skin, blending the darker areas with the lighter ones.
This is extremely helpful when applying self-tanner to melasma-affected skin.
The Tan Physics True Color Sunless Tanner is not only a self-tanner but also an anti-aging moisturizer — protecting your skin while making it look amazing.
5. Bahama Tan Sunless Lotion
The Bahama Tan Lotion contains no toxic chemicals and will cause no streaks or blotches on the skin.
It contains natural and organic ingredients that are kind to your skin.
What makes this self-tanning lotion great for melasma spots is that it can be applied over 1 to 4 days to achieve the desired tone and tan.
This means you can achieve a tan that matches all the different skin tones affected by melasma. It is easy to apply and can be used all year round, providing consistent coverage.
How To Apply Self-Tanner on Melasma-Prone Skin
When applying self-tanner to melasma-prone skin, there are some ways to prevent the darker patches from becoming too dark.
You can use either petroleum jelly or a moisturizer to protect the darker spots and prevent the DHA from reacting too intensely with the epidermis.
If you are trying to cover darker spots, it might be worth using a Q-tip to dot the barrier cream over the smaller spots.
Another way to prevent these areas from darkening further is by applying self-tanner evenly over your whole body, and then blotting away the excess from the darker areas and applying moisturizers to the darker spots.
This means the darker spots won’t react with the DHA like the rest of the skin, and the moisturizer will help keep them hydrated, while also providing a barrier between the epidermis and the active ingredient DHA.
Does Tanning Cause Melasma?
Tanning under the sun can definitely cause or worsen the appearance of melasma spots on the skin.
The ultraviolet rays stimulate the pigment cells in the skin, which are responsible for the darker patches.
Melasma can be easily activated by sun rays, so it is essential to wear sunscreen when venturing outdoors.
Your face is usually at the highest risk of sunburn, as it is fairly exposed to the sun; this is one of the reasons why melasma often presents on the face.
When you have been out in the sun, you might think that you have achieved a beautifully even tan, but after time, certain spots, mainly on your face, will darken while the rest of your tan fades.
Avoiding the sun or wearing a heavy-duty SPF sunscreen can help prevent or at least lessen the effects of melasma if it is already present.
Self-Tanning and Melasma
Choosing the right self-tanning lotion for melasma will not only give you an even, streak-free tan, but it will also contain ingredients that will nourish and refresh your skin, keeping it feeling and looking healthy and renewed.
Don’t let dark melasma spots get you down. With the right self-tanning lotion and the correct application, you can blend the darker spots in to match your beautiful new glowing tan.
You can achieve the skin tone you have always wanted, and you can look and feel as gorgeous as you deserve to.
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