Vitiligo is a skin condition whereby patches of skin appear white due to loss of pigmentation. It affects both males and females, and may appear on different parts of the body, such as the arms, legs, face, and thighs. This condition is not life-threatening or contagious, but it affects the psychological and physical well-being of a person.
A person with vitiligo finds it hard to feel comfortable on their skin, which affects their confidence and self-esteem. Take for example Michael Jackson, who covered his condition with bandages and makeup for years.
This is where spray tanning comes in. It’s a good thing that, with the invention of spray tanning session, we found an awesome cosmetic solution to even out the skin tone for people with vitiligo.
Is Spray Tanning Safe for those with Vitiligo
Spray tanning involves layering your skin with a spray tan solution to achieve a bronze and sunkissed look. These products do not need melanin to produce the tan on the skin nor does it hinder the setting of the product if the person lacks melanin. Hence, spray tanning products are safe to use for people with vitiligo.
Spray tanning is an awesome way to camouflage the white patches on the skin, so people with this condition no longer have to cover up or hide away from the beach. Since spray tan products vary from light to dark, they can choose the right concentration for their needs.
A darker spray tan can be applied to the white patches, while a light-colored spray tan can be used to even out the skin tone. The effects of the spray tan can last up to seven to 10 days.
If you’re planning to get a spray tan, a good option would be to book an appointment with a spray tanning salon. The specialists there would start spray tanning the white patches on your skin using a handheld device, followed by a second layer wherein you would step into the tanning booth for your whole body to be sprayed.
Precautions
When choosing a self-tanning product, make sure it has extra moisturizing ingredients that would moisturize and nourish the skin. Also use products with natural oils since it would be much kinder and gentler on the skin.
When going for a spray tan, do not book an appointment before a special occasion since the desired result may take some time to take effect. When it’s your first time to go on a spray tan session, you and your specialist may take time to choose which mix would do great on your skin. So, it’s better to book an appointment, a week before an event.
Aftercare Tips
Shower Routine
After getting a spray tan, do not wash off right away, but wait after six to eight hours. When taking the first shower, gently pat the skin and avoid scrubbing to refrain from getting a flaky and uneven skin tone.
Apply Moisturizer
After taking the first shower, apply moisturizer to maintain the color of the tan. Moisturize every day to give your tan a natural and healthy look. Use moisturizers that are gentle on your skin, so you won’t develop blemishes and acne.
Consume Plenty of Water and Healthy Fruits
Aside from applying moisturizer on your skin, it is best to drink eight glasses of water and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to hydrate your skin. This would naturally give your skin a healthy and hydrated glow.
How Frequent Should Spray Tan be Applied
A person with vitiligo can visit the tanning salon every two weeks to reapply the tan, since it lasts for seven to 10 days. For future visits, the person may come back to the salon about twice a week to assess the results.
Coming in regularly to the spray tanning salon, builds the color of the tan and it is an effective way to touch up the lighter areas of the skin. There are also tanning lotions that can be used after getting a spray tan to help retouch the areas that have lightened.
Tips for Covering Vitiligo with Spray Tan
Everyone deserves to feel happy and beautiful. A spray tanning session is a perfect cosmetic solution for people with vitiligo. To help you have that even and healthy tan, we have listed tips in covering vitiligo with a spray tan.
Prep Your Skin
It is always important to prep and exfoliate your skin the night before your appointment. Exfoliating your skin would help in the absorption and application of the spray tan solution on your skin.
Book a Consultation
If it’s your first time to get a spray tan, book a consultation to discuss your condition and expectations. This will allow the specialist to see and assess future results. A patch test can also be included in your consultation.
Do a Patch Test
Before applying a tanning solution, your specialists will do a patch test. This would give your specialists an idea to know if your skin may be allergic to certain ingredients on the tanning solution. It also allows them to check which shade suits you best.
Use a Small Airbrush or Sponge
When applying the spray solution on the white patches of the skin, use the airbrush setting on the spray gun to focus on these areas. When blending the edges where the darker and lighter skin meets, apply the spray tan solution in a patting motion using a sponge.
Apply a Second Layer
After covering the white patches on the skin, apply a second layer to even out the skin tone. A combination of spray tanning solutions with light and dark shades can be used—a dark shade to cover the white patches and a lighter shade for the whole body.
Spray Tanning Vitiligo
Spray tanning those with vitiligo can be a little bit tricky because you have to find the right shade and application to even out the skin tone. But, this shouldn’t be a hindrance for the person to feel confident and beautiful in their skin.
Through spray tanning, people with vitiligo can cover the white patches on their skin, wear summer outfits and create a healthy-looking glow!
