Why does some of a person’s tan wash away?
The top skin layer is continuously renewing itself. Depending on a person’s age, the renewal cycle takes anywhere from once a month to about 50 days to complete. Melanin that has been produced in the skin and tanned is working its way to the top of the skin until it surfaces. At this point you have tanned melanin both in your skin and on the surface of your skin. Tanned melanin on the surface of the skin is going to remain there only as long as it takes to shave or wash it off. In a sense some of a person’s tan will just wash away down the drain. Of course regular tanning visits rebuild what has been lost.
