How does self tanning work?
The skin browning effect of dihydroxyacetone is non-toxic and comes from a Maillard reaction. It is more commonly seen in the food preparation industry, and was described in 1912 by Louis-Camille Maillard. DHA reacts chemically with the amino acid groups, which are part of the protein containing keratin layer on the skin surface. Various amino acids react differently to DHA, producing different tones of coloration from yellow to brown. The resulting pigments are called melanoidins. These are similar in coloration to melanin, the natural substance in the deeper skin layers which brown or “tan”, from exposure to UV rays.
