Beauty's hidden peril

TAN MAXXING: BIGGER RISK NOT PHYSICAL, BUT PSYCHOLOGICAL

- Hein Kaiser

It's summer and everyone wants a golden tan.

It's nothing new, from Brigitte Bardot through to whatever media starlet influences trends on social media.

Cape Town's Clifton Beach and Ballito on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast through to salons and tanning beds, it's an annual fixation from tan maxxing to UV chasing and all over tanning.

Tan maxxing is the buzz right now. It's about going as dark as possible without using the sun's rays. People layer self-tan mousses, drops, sprays and bronzing lotions in quick succession, sometimes topping up daily to build what influencers call the ultimate bronze.

"Tan maxxing is everywhere online," said Darelle Gardner of Colour Rush hair and beauty salon in Sunninghill.

"We have people coming in who already have two layers of self-tan on at home and still want a spray to take it further. If the skin is well prepped and hydrated it can look incredible, but it is easy to push too far."

She said: "Dryness, patchiness and an unnatural tone can creep in if the skin is not looked after."

Psychologist Dr Jonathan Redelinghuys says the bigger risk is not physical in this instance, as there is no sun damage. However it can be psychological.