What Is Canthaxanthin?

In order to understand the function of Canthaxanthin (pronounced CAN-THA-ZAN-THIN) an understanding of a group of molecules called carotenoids would be helpful.

There are two major groups of carotenoids:
1. Carotenoids - Bright colors (yellow, orange, and red) that are found in nature.

Carotenoids: Are biological pigments that are the coloring of living organisms and the necessary molecules needed for important metabolic reactions. They are distributed everywhere in leaves, flowers, fruits, and roots of plants. Carotenoids are also found in many animals, especially in marine invertebrates. They tend to accumulate in brightly colored feathers of tropical birds.

All carotenoids that are found in animals are ultimately derived from plants or algae. Carotenoids are potent antioxidant molecules that protect plants from damage caused by singlet and triplet oxygen which is the by-product of ultra violet rays and photosynthetic metabolism. They are free radical scavengers that prevent harmful uncontrolled oxidation chain reactions.
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Do not use tanning pills without first consulting your physician.

Pills that contain large doses of beta carotene and canthaxanthin are sometimes marketed as “tanning pills.” Tanning pills are food dye pills that dye the skin in a tan like color without the need for exposure to the sun. When a person ingests the food color a.k.a. (also known as), tanning pills in large quantities, the substance is deposited in various parts of the body, including the skin, where it imparts a color ranging from orange to brownish.

These pills usually contain beta carotene and or canthaxanthin which are carotenoids which are often used as plant dyes. These food dye pills are approved for use as a food color additive by the FDA, (Food and Drug Administration), where it is used in small amounts, but it is not approved for use as a tanning agent.
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Eye Protection
Many salons use goggles equipped with a Kodak lens that block out 99 per cent of UVB and 99.9 per cent of UVA. Do not use outdoor sunglasses as they do not provide sufficient protection for tanning indoors.
Eye goggles should not be damaged in any way that permits the light to penetrate the eyes.

Eye goggles should always be worn snugly on the face. If any bright light can be seen through them or at the edges of them, they should be readjusted or replaced.
Eye goggles should never be removed during a tanning session, not for any reason, especially not in order to tan the eyelids.

Contact lenses should be removed prior to tanning. Although eye goggles will protect eyes and lenses from UV damage, the heat emitted from the tanning bed may dry out the contact lenses and irritate eyes.
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When tanning indoors using professional tanning beds and the like, government approved eye goggles are just as essential to the eyes as lotion is to the skin.

Fearing the look of ‘raccoon eyes,’ some people neglect to wear government approved eye goggles when tanning indoors. This is a big mistake as due to the thin make up of the eyelids, simply just shutting the eyes while in a tanning bed is insufficient protection from UVA and UVB light.

Even only a brief exposure to UV light waves can lead to a host of eye problems as the cornea can absorb UVB rays, causing corneal burns which may appear as inflamed eye tissue, redness and soreness of the eyes. Long term, cumulative effects of UVA can cause retinal burns, cataracts (a clouding of the eye’s lens) or even internal eye damage.

Considerable UV exposure can also cause benign growths or a thickening of the conjunctive which is the protective membrane lining the eyes and covering the eyeball. This in turn can result in pinguecula, causing the appearance of a yellow spot on either side of the cornea. In the very extreme cases, long term UV damage to the eyes can include a loss of night vision and a difficulty in seeing colors.
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Tanning beds are also known as solariums, booths or sun beds. Although when using a tanning bed you are subjecting your body to an artificial light source, these artificial rays are in fact mimicking the exact same type of UV rays that you receive from being out in the sun.

The tanning bed lamps give a sense of sun bathing as it projects its ultraviolet rays, which penetrate through the skin giving it the exposure it needs to produce an increased concentration of melanin in the skin and in fair skinned people this increase being so evenly distributed produces what is known as a suntan. Tanning beds should be treated no differently than being out in the sun as the same UV damage can occur.

First time tanners
If its your first time at the particular salon you will be asked to fill out a consent form and if you are under 18, you will need the permission of a parent or guardian before you can use a tanning bed.
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