The key is to find methods to receive adequate sunlight exposure while reducing skin damage. Tanning itself is not harmful. The production of melanin in the skin creates a powerful protective and anti-oxidant system in the skin. The key is to obtain tanning with a minimum of damaging free radical damage to other areas of the skin.

1. Before suntanning apply Protect & Restore Suntanning Lotion as a thin coating prior to suntanning. A small amount of water may be used to help spread the cream. This is a skin remodeling cream with titanium dioxide and high levels of anti-oxidants.
2. After suntanning, re-apply P&R Body Lotion. THIS IS CRITICAL - USE COPPER PEPTIDE SKIN REMODELING CREAMS BEFORE AND AFTER SUNTANNING. If less suntanned skin is lost by peeling, less sun exposure will be required to keep the suntan. As suntanning increases pigmentation of the skin it also induces a mild erythema or redness, thus producing the reddish-brown tint to the natural skin color that is so sought for. However, this action produces certain levels of damage to the skin barrier. For example, transepidermal water loss from skin increases. This damage must be promptly repaired or the newly tanned skin will peel off. Skin Biology's copper peptide cream help the processes of skin barrier repair.
3. If you have a tendency to sunburn or plan an extended time in the sun, use a reflective sunscreen such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide over the Protect & Restore Suntanning Lotion.
4. Moderate suntanning ( 30 minutes maximum per day ) over a number of days produces the best results. Suntanning slowly produces pigment (melanin) in the skin. It takes about three days to induce significant melanin in your skin. Melanin blocks ultraviolet rays and also serves as a powerful anti-oxidant. In addition, the skin's natural defenses against oxygen radicals include other anti-oxidants such as Vitamin E and beta-carotene, and the copper-containing protein, superoxide dismutase, all of which de-toxify oxygen radicals and reduce skin damage.
5. Suntanning also thickens the skin and this provides further protection against sun burns but this thickening takes about three weeks. Skin thins with age and is thicker when we are young. But again, go slow!
6. < Remember, excessive sun exposure can overwhelm the protective systems in the skin, causing skin damage that produces skin peeling and other types of damage. Dr. Lester Packer (University of California, Berkeley) has published extensively on the role played by antioxidants such as Vitamin E and skin protection. His research found that after absorbing in the UVB radiation from sunlight spectrum, vitamin E is transformed into a free radical (tocopheroxyl) which can regenerate back to vitamin E (tocopherol) via reaction with the skin's vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Packer's hypothesis is that as ultraviolet radiation dosage is gradually increased, these two antioxidant defenses of the skin are overwhelmed. Then free radicals begin to form in the skin and cause various types of cellular damage, including lipid peroxidation and oxidative modification of skin proteins and cellular DNA. Packer has measured the depletion of cutaneous lipid soluble antioxidants (such as Vitamin E) after ultraviolet radiation of the skin. For example, 45 minutes of exposure to the noon-day sun can lower the skin's protective vitamin C levels by 80%. and also markedly lower other protective skin anti-oxidants such Vitamin E and beta-carotene. Packer also finds that sunblockers reduce this depletion of dermal antioxidants. Supplements of key anti-oxidants have been found to increase the skin's internal resistance to ultraviolet damage as mentioned above. So, for at least three days before tanning, take a daily supplement of vitamn C (1 gram), Co-Q10 (30 mgs), alpha lipoic acid (100 mgs), vitamin E (400 units), and tocotrienols (35 mgs).
7. Take 2 milligrams of copper 2+ daily. Do this even if you are taking a multimineral supplement since most such supplements have so much zinc that they drive out copper 2+. The extra copper 2+ will activate more superoxide dismutase, your primary anti-oxidant defense. The extra copper 2+ will also activate more copper-requiring tyrosinase. The enzyme converts tyrosine into melanin, the skin pigment. It is impossible to effective tan with adequate copper 2+ in your skin.
8. High quality sunglasses that absorb ultraviolet rays should be worn for eye protection. Large hats and protective clothing should be wore at other times when in heavy sunlight.

Warning - This product does not contain a sunscreen and does not protect against sunburn. Repeated exposure of unprotected skin while tanning may increase skin aging, skin cancer, and other harmful effects to the skin even if you do not burn.

Want to read more please visit Dr. Pickarts web site at: http://www.suntanscience.com/