Artificial tanning

Self-tanning products provide a temporary colouration of the skin, which mimics the naturally sun-tanned skin. They are popular and widely used due to highly desired tanned skin and greater awareness of the harmful effects of the UV light.

The common ingredient used in these kinds of products is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA is a self-tanning agent, which is responsible for the darkening of the skin by staining. The site of action is stratum corneum, where DHA as a sugar reacts with amino groups of the proteins in the top layer of the skin. This reaction is known as the Maillard reaction.