Sunless Tanning: When It's Not So Healthy

By Sarah Jio, Glamour magazine

Raise your hand if you love self tanner? I have a love-hate relationship with the stuff. I gave up tanning in college (thank goodness), but I do find slathering self tanner on my bod to be a real pain. But, it's the safer route. Or is it? New warnings...

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Yes, sunless tanners are the ultimate healthy alternative to indoor tanning beds or baking on a lounge chair by the pool sans sunscreen, but many studies over the year indicate that people who use self-tanners may still be unhealthy about skin protection.

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According to a recent LA Times article, experts worry that self tanners may significantly undermine how people view the dangers of tanning. In other words, when their skin gets a little brown from self-tanner, they may be more apt to go outside without sunscreen.

Since self-tanners don't provide any sun protection, this is a big problem. In fact, in a major study conducted by the Archives of Dermatology, researchers found that those who used sunless tanning products were more likely to also frequent tanning salons. In other words, tanning breeds more tanning--of all kinds, healthy or not.

I'm curious: Do you use self-tanners and tanning beds? What are your thoughts on self-tanners?