
You’re planning on going to a party this evening, so you decide to do your makeup and get ready.
You’ve never had any allergies or skin sensitivities before, but today when you put on your favourite fake tanner for the first time in months, it doesn’t feel right.You are having allergic reactions to fake tan.
Your skin is sensitive and feels dry. Then an hour later it’s worse – red blotches appear all over your body and itch like crazy! What could be happening?
There are so many different types of fake tans on the market, it’s hard to know which one is best.
But before you do anything else be sure that your body can handle a particular type by checking with an allergist first just in case!
Why Can Fake Tan Trigger Allergies
So, you want to know how fake tans can trigger allergies? Let’s talk a bit about that. Allergies could be triggered for a couple of factors. Here are some:
1. New Ingredients – The culprit might be that new bottle of self-tanning lotion that just came out last month.
Turns out there are some ingredients inside that can cause allergic reactions if someone has sensitivities or allergies to them – even if they didn’t know they had those sensitivities or allergies.
2. Common Ingredients – It’s important to be aware of what those common ingredients are and try to avoid them as much as possible, especially if you know that you have sensitive skin or sensitivities that might cause an allergic reaction after using topical applications like self-tanning lotions.
That way it doesn’t matter whether the product is new on the shelf or not – you know that it’s safe.
3. DHA’s presence in particular – The chemical, DHA (which is a by-product of sugar cane) has been known to cause allergic reactions in some people.
If you’re one of those who’s sensitive or have an allergy then it could very well be that your body reacted negatively with the application of self tanning lotion that contains this ingredient.
4. Bronzer – If you’ve been using bronzer on your skin this summer, it’s possible that there could be some leftover residue or even a reaction to the product itself.
If so, then the least of your concerns is your fake tanner!
There could be more in the fake tan’s ingredients that can trigger your allergies, that’s why it’s best to be cautious about what’s added and what’s the usual ingredients.
How to Avoid Fake Tan Allergic Reactions
It has been known for years now that fake tans are an allergen. But many people who have sensitive skin don’t know what they’re allergic to because the list can be long and inaccurate, so here’s how you avoid a bad reaction when using these products!
1. Choose a product of good quality – buying something cheap off the shelf, especially when you’re not sure if it’s free of DHA or other allergens, is the worst idea ever.
It would be better to spend a little bit more money on an all-natural product that contains no additives at all than buy something cheap and risk having an allergic reaction during your self tanning experience!
2. Make sure to prep your skin – If you want to make sure that your skin is in great condition before applying a self-tanner, it’s best to do all the necessary prep work.
This means taking care of any issues with acne and making sure the skin has no irritations or rashes on it by moisturizing well and giving yourself an exfoliation treatment!
3. Do a patch test – If you’ve never used self-tanners before, it’s best to do a quick patch test on your skin just in case.
This way you can determine if there are any allergies or sensitivities that might be triggered by the product itself!
What to Do if You Are Having Fake Tan Allergic Reactions
If you’re having trouble with your fake tan, there are some things that could help.
1. Rinse or clean off the fake tan product – If you got a reaction from the tanner itself, then it’s best to just rinse off any excess product.
If there is still some left behind on your skin because of an allergic reaction or irritation, try using a cotton ball soaked in either witch hazel or tea tree oil and applying that directly onto the affected area.
2. Take an antihistamine – If you’re having an allergic reaction to the product, it’s best to take a quick antihistamine before anything else.
This will definitely help soothe any itching or swelling that might happen!
3. Apply Calamine lotion – If the itching is really bad, then it’s best to calm your skin down by applying a good layer of calamine lotion onto where there are any rashes or irritation.
4. Go see a doctor – if you’ve been using self-tanners for years and suddenly have an allergic reaction to one without knowing why, go see a dermatologist and get checked out!
It could be that your body is reacting to something in the product you’re using and it’s best to get a professional opinion.

Fake Tanners vs Natural Tanning Methods
Go and try to get a natural tan by using the sun! It might not be as fast, but it’s definitely safer for your skin.
You can also use fake tanners sparingly – don’t go overboard because you’ll end up having an allergic reaction at some point due to overusing self-tanners!
Stay away from ingredients that might trigger your allergies – if you know or suspect that there are certain ingredients in the fake tan product, then it’s best to stay away from them.
If not, look for labels and additives so you can be sure about what’s inside!
In this case, you might consider natural tanning methods instead because they’re less likely to trigger your allergies.
Another advantage of natural tanning methods over fake tanners if you have allergic reactions is that fake tanners are much more likely to fade away rather than darken or turn patchy!
Benefits of Using Fake Tanners
There are a number of ways to make your skin look better.
One way is by using fake tanners, which can be applied as makeup or with an airbrush tool and give you that perfect bronze-y complexion!
Let’s talk about some of the benefits, considering that you are not allergic to any of the ingredients.
- Fake tanners can give you a summer glow and make your skin look great for the beach!
- If applied correctly, they don’t come off easily. They’re not hard to remove though by any means – just hop in the shower and scrub them away with soap or shampoo.
- Fake tanners can help cover up imperfections and make your skin look smoother.
- They also come in a variety of shades to match any type of complexion!
- You can even use them on your hair and nails to give you a fake tan look!
- Fake tanners can also help protect your skin from the sun!
- They’re great for people who are time poor and just want to get out of the house quickly.
This is what you need to know about fake tanners – they might be harmful, but if used correctly with some precautions, it’s possible that they won’t affect you.
At the end of the day, it’s all up to your skin!
Drawbacks of Fake Tanners
However, as mentioned above, if you are not able to apply correctly, you’ll also experience some drawbacks. Here are some:
- Fake tanners can cause some serious damage to the skin if you don’t know how to use them. Use with caution!
- Fake tans come off easily when in contact with water, sweat or rubbing against something – be careful not to get caught in any of these situations while wearing one!
- You may also want to keep some wipes on hand for when you need to get rid of it quickly.
- Fake tanners are also not good for people with sensitive skin – they can cause irritation, breakouts and rashes!
Tips on Using Fake Tanning Products Safely
As mentioned above, if applied correctly, fake tanning products won’t affect most people negatively. Here’s what you need to do:
- Try and test a small amount of fake tan on your skin first. If there’s no sign of irritation after 24 hours, you’re good to go!
- Exfoliate before applying for even colouring.
- Apply moisturiser on where there are any rashes or irritations. This will also help the product stick better.
- Avoid the hairline, eyes and lips! If it does get on your hair or in your eye, make sure to wash it out with cold water immediately.
- Always do a patch test before using fake tanning products regularly – this is especially important if you’re self-tanning for the first time or haven’t done it in a while!
- Use gentle exfoliation methods to get rid of tan – don’t scrub too hard and try not to use anything that may irritate your skin.

When you go out, remember the following:
- Avoid wearing tight clothing so fake tanners can breathe. It’s best to wear loose clothes if possible.
- Don’t wear tanning products to the beach or pool – it’ll come off!
- If you want a darker look, reapply when you get home so that your skin can absorb as much of it as possible for maximum impact.
So now you know everything there is about fake tanners and whether they’re safe or not if used correctly!
Now go and get that perfect tan for the summer while staying safe at the same time.
In conclusion, if you have skin allergies or sensitivities then fake tanning can very well trigger them!
Be sure to know what ingredients might cause an allergic reaction so that when you go shopping for self-tanners, you can be more informed and proactive about your purchase.
If you’re having trouble with a reaction to fake tanner then rinse it off, take an antihistamine if needed, apply calamine lotion or witch hazel/tea tree oil as well as go see a doctor!
It could simply just be that the product you’re using contains ingredients that your body doesn’t like.
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