Fashion

Why Self-Tanner Might Be Bad For Your Eczema

by Lindsey Rose Black

It can be a little trickier to achieve a spring glow for those of you with delicate skin, but that doesn't mean it's impossible! If you're asking yourself, "Is it OK to use self-tanner with eczema?" it's a great question, and one that I can answer. Thanks to the help of Dr. David E. Bank at The Center for Dermatology in Westchester, NY, you can get the truth straight from a professional.

"Depending on the severity of your eczema," Bank shares, "using self-tanners may be an option for you to achieve a healthy glow without putting your skin at risk of harmful UV rays." So, yes, you can use self-tanner with eczema, but the answer is a little more nuanced than that.

Those with eczema need to seriously scroll a self-tanner's ingredient list to determine if it's safe to use. He tells me, "One of the main ingredients in a lot of self tanners is DHA (Dihydroxyacetone), which is the coloring agent that stains the skin. Unfortunately, DHA can be extremely drying and dehydrating and can cause irritation."

While using DHA might be safe for you even if you have eczema, Bank says, "Make sure to spot test yourself to determine if it is the cause of any allergic relations." Luckily, there's still hope even if you react negatively to DHA!

I asked Bank to pull together his safest DHA-free self-tanner recommendations. If you have eczema, shop these self-tanners below:

1. St. Tropez One Night Only Instant Glow Body Lotion

St. Tropez One Night Only Instant Glow Body Lotion, $16, St. Tropez

Although it washes off after one use, this DHA-free tanner will safely give you that glow.

2. Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning

Liquid Bronze Self Tanning , $30, A mazon

Bank's other top recommendation was this liquid bronze from Clarins that's 100 percent comedogenic.

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Images: Ivan Gener/Stocksy; Courtesy of Brands