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FAQ: Skin Conditions
A Liquid Sun® application will only ever look as good as the health of the skin it's being applied to. Listed below are some common skin problems and tips on how to address / tan these areas.
Please remember, every individual is different, as is their skin, and sometimes other factors (including lifestyle, medications, hormones etc.) can also impact the body / skin, and affect your tan. Therefore, the information provided is a guide only, as it is not possible to guarantee or predict results in every individual situation.
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Open sores / wounds / rashes or unhealed surgical incisions:
Avoid applying any product to open wounds, rashes, open sores or unhealed surgical incisions.
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Dry Skin:
Dry skin has a tendency to absorb the tanning solution quickly. (This is why less product is always applied to drier areas of the body such as elbows, knees and feet). Dry skin also exfoliates faster, which can cause the tan to fade faster and more unevenly.
TIP: Ensure you moisturise twice daily post tan. Use the Bronzing Custard every second day and apply the Body Frosting at least once daily. Avoid using soaps as these can be excessively drying to your skin. Use a SLS (Sodium Laurel Sulphate) free shower gel or wash such as Body Shampoo.
Excess oils on the skin surface can create a barrier to the DHA (the active tanning ingredient in Liquid Sun®) which may cause your tan to develop lighter.
TIP: Ensure you properly exfoliate and freshly shower prior to applying your tan, so that any excess oils are removed and to ensure that you are applying product to clean, dry skin.
Some individuals have larger facial and / or back pores either due to age or oily skin. This can sometimes cause excess solution to pool in the pores and look like blackheads.
TIP: Ensure you properly exfoliate prior to applying your tan, paying particular attention to those areas with the larger pores.
N.B. Hair removal (including waxing / shaving) temporarily enlarges the hair follicles (pores). To avoid solution pooling in these larger pores, any hair removal is best done the day prior to applying your tan.
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Freckles & Age Spots:
Freckles and age spots (sometimes referred to as sunspots or liver spots) are caused by UV exposure, and are not affected (or darkened) by Liquid Sun®. In the majority of instances, it will help disguise these (including other skin pigmentation and imperfections), and make them less noticeable.
Moles and warts may absorb more product and appear slightly darker.
TIP: If you have any concerns, apply product lightly in/over these areas. Alternately, depending on your individual situation (& its practicality), you may wish to use a cotton tip to gently wipe colour / product off any individual mole or wart that you feel uncomfortable with in appearing slightly darker.
Liquid Sun® may lighten or disguise the appearance of scars and stretch marks, and can result in a more even looking skin tone.
Avoid applying product to fresh scars (solution may be absorbed more quickly in these areas and appear slightly darker). Avoid applying product to unhealed scars.
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Acne or Sensitive Skin:
Skin that is prone to acne is very similar to sensitive skin. Bronzers, fragrances and natural plant products can sometimes cause acne breakouts or irritate sensitive skin.
TIP: Although Liquid Sun® contains 99.9% natural and organic ingredients, some individuals may still be sensitive to some of its ingredients. Always do a test patch first (on an inconspicuous area of the body), particularly if you experience sensitivity to products on a regular basis.
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DHA Resistive:
In a perfect world, everyone's skin would respond to ingredients and products in the same way. The reality is however, that on rare occasions, an individual doesn't respond to Liquid Sun® (or any other self-tanner), due to a resistance to DHA.
Some medications and hormonal changes can also affect your skin (body) and hence your tan. Every individual is different, as is their skin, and sometimes these differences affect your tanning results. Remember, these results may sometimes be indicative of other underlying health issues or causes, rather than an indication as to the effectiveness of the actual product.
TIP: Ensure that any product resistance is not due to oily skin, or wearing moisturiser (or any other product) on the skin during application, or in the 8 - 10 hour period following application, during which time the product is developing.
Ensure that all pre-tan and post-tan instructions are followed.
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Eczema:
Eczema is quite a common condition and can appear in a variety of different ways, including rough, dry, red, itchy patches of scaly skin, which are sometimes blistery, and that often crack in areas of movement (e.g. on skin folds).
The inclusion of Cehami® as one of the primary ingredients in Liquid Sun® and the Liquid Sun Tanning Gloves has been clinically proven to assist with this condition. If the eczema is extreme, you should always obtain your health care provider's approval before use, as DHA can sometimes irritate already dry and sensitive skin.
TIP: Although Liquid Sun® contains 99.9% natural and organic ingredients, do a test patch first (on an inconspicuous area of the body), particularly if you experience sensitivity to other products on a regular basis.
If your eczema is mild, you can use the Body Frosting on affected areas, as this moisturiser will soothe and prevent your tan from grabbing.
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Rosacea:
Rosacea is a form of adult acne which causes redness, inflammation, sensitivity and broken capillaries. UV tanning can cause this condition to flare-up.
Liquid Sun® will work well on the body, however facially, the DHA may cause irritation and flare-ups.
TIP: If you have rosacea, you should always consult your Dermatologist before using Liquid Sun®. If you're given approval, it's advisable that you test a small are of the face first to ensure there are no reactions.
Psoriasis occurs when the skin speeds up the formation of new skin - taking place in a matter of days instead of weeks, and resulting in plaques of skin forming on the surface.
In most cases, Liquid Sun® assists will healing. However you should always seeks your Dermatologists' approval before use.
Vitiligo is a skin condition in which cells that produce melanin have died in some areas of the skin, causing areas of skin to be white or paler in comparison (due to the loss of pigment).
As DHA works on the protein in the dead layer of the skin and not the melanin, Liquid Sun® can be used with this condition. The un pigmented skin will still appear lighter, however the contrast should less noticeable, depending on the amount of initial contrast and the extent of the individual condition.
TIP: If practical (i.e. depending on the extent and severity of the vitiligo), apply product to the affected (un pigmented) areas, and blend / smooth the colour out to the unaffected (pigmented) areas. If working in smaller areas, it may be more practical to use a cotton ball, cotton tip or a sponge applicator tool to apply product. In contrast to using your hands to apply product, these methods may allow you more control in applying colour to selected areas of skin.
Often with conditions such as vitiligo - and because the nature of the condition can vary so much between individuals, - a little patience and experimentation is often required to work out the best method of application and to obtain the best result in your situation.
