Gone are the days when it was necessary to go out in the sun to get tanned. Several tanning solutions are available on the market to give you a healthy, glowing tan. However, if you do not prefer such expensive oils, you can easily use baby oil for tanning.
However, is it okay to use baby oil as a tanning lotion? Does it pose any safety issues? Read this article to know more about its role in skin tanning, how to use it, and safety precautions. Scroll down.
In This Article
What Is Baby Oil?
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Baby oil is a skin care product intended for use on infants. It moisturizes their skin and prevents any bacterial infections. Most baby oils contain mineral oils, vitamin E, and aloe. They also are very less likely to cause any skin irritation as they are specifically meant for use on the sensitive skin of babies.
Did You Know? Johnson and Johnson was one of the first companies to mass-produce baby oils in 1935.
But does baby oil really help you get tanned? Let us find out in the next section.
Related: Why Vitamin E Capsules Are Good For Your Skin
Does Baby Oil Help You Tan?
While research is limited, applying some baby oil to your skin might help you tan easily. The oil does not keep the sun’s rays from penetrating your skin.
Some also believe that combining baby oil and iodine may help with tanning. Iodine is thought to work similar to baby oil. Using an iodine and baby oil tanning mixture is also thought to cause nausea and vomiting. However, using baby oil and iodine for tanning may increase the risk of skin cancer.
Using baby oil for tanning has its own set of benefits. We will explore them in the next section.
Benefits Of Using Baby Oil For Tanning
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- Offers Quick Results: Baby oil usually contains no additional blends. Hence, it can work fast and offer you quick results.
- Gives A Deep Tan: Baby oil seeps into your skin and offers a deep, rich tan. You only may need a few sessions with baby oil.
Related: How To Remove Tan From The Face And Skin – 12 Remedies, Treatment Options + Tips
- Causes No Allergies: Baby oil contains no harsh chemicals as it is made exclusively for babies. It is very unlikely to cause any allergies.
- It Is Non-Sticky: Most tanning lotions can be very sticky to touch. But baby oil easily seeps into your skin and leaves no sticky feeling.
- Is Safe For Clothes: Baby oil leaves no pesky stains on your clothes. Most tanning lotions tend to stain your clothes.
You may be quite excited to use baby oil for tanning. But you also must know how safe it is for use on the skin.
Is It Safe To Use Baby Oil For Tanning?
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No, it is not. The use of baby oil for sun tanning became popular in the late ’70s when the idea of sun damage was not clear. Today, we know enough about skin damage due to sun exposure and UVA/UVB rays.
Using baby oil for tanning may cause skin malignancies due to UV radiation. Rather than deflect the sun rays, baby oil may instead allow them to pass unhindered to the deeper skin layers.
Hence, using baby oil to tan your skin is not safe. It poses several risks. We have discussed them briefly in the next section.
What Are The Risks Of Tanning With Baby Oil?
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Trying to achieve a tan with baby oil can potentially harm your skin. Here’s how:
- Exposing your skin to the sun after using baby oil increases the risk of sunburn. It also may lead to further peeling and scarring of skin. You may even end up with patchy spots on your skin.
- The sunburns may also increase the risk of skin cancer.
- Exposing your skin to the sun for longer periods may make it wrinkled and saggy. Photoaging may not become apparent on your skin immediately after tanning with baby oil. But you will start observing its effects with time.
- Excess exposure to UV radiation may also damage the skin cells and lead to tumors and other abnormal growths on the skin.
It is, therefore, important to remember these undesirable effects of prolonged sun exposure when contemplating a tanned appearance, regardless of the method used to do so.
Using baby oil for tanning does pose certain risks. But what if you can still use it and reduce the risks?
Related: Is Baby Oil Good For Your Hair?
How Do You Use Baby Oil To Tan Your Skin?
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You may try adding SPF to baby oil before using it on your skin. This might offer some protection against sun damage. Adding sunscreen to baby oil may also help moisturize the skin. However, research is very limited in this regard. Consult your dermatologist before using baby oil for tanning.
Stylecraze Says Ensure you use sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 when applying with baby oil.
The use of baby oil for tanning dates back to the late 1970s. Then, baby oil was used by women to tan their skin because it was a cheaper alternative to tanning products. Unfortunately, there has been a lack of understanding of the potential harm that this approach can do to the skin. While it is simple and inexpensive to tan with baby oil, it also raises the risk of skin cancer and other significant skin problems. Therefore, combining SPF with baby oil is a safer alternative. However, before using baby oil for tanning, we recommend consulting a doctor.
