Top models are often discovered at a very early age – this was also the case for Kate Moss, who got discovered at the tender age of 14 at the JFK airport in New York. In the meanwhile Kate Moss already belongs to the older model generation, but is still booked well. For more than 25 years the blonde who is just about 1.70 meters tall is jetting all around the world to do model jobs for well-known designers and making good money therewith.
Naturally such a success, particularly in this field, also brings along drawbacks: Alcohol and drug excesses, maternal neglect of her daughter Lily Grace, and many other things Kate is accused of by the media. However, shadow notoriously belongs to the light and at least her fans seem to not hold these excessive and sometimes irresponsible seeming “rides” against the ex of the potentially scandalous British pop singer Pete Doherty.
Recently the 41-year-old was chatting with the German paper Gala about a new – this time for a change quite harmless – addiction: It is about self-tanning lotion, which she fancies. “I can’t stand my pale skin. Sure, I am a sun worshipper, but everybody knows: That brings along wrinkles!” While in East Asian countries pale skin is considered to be particular noble, people in our regions are of the opinion that a healthy tan radiates more sex appeal. Now who wonders if both men and women are frying in the sun, as soon as it appears?
As reader of my blog you know that UVA and UVB radiation contained in sun light can lead to cell damage. Frying in the sun for hours is exceedingly hazardous to health, even the WHO is warning. Thereby not only the so-called “photo aging” is promoted, but also the development of skin cancer.
By the way, artificial UV light from the solarium is even considerably unhealthier than natural sunlight!
All these things persuade Kate to reach for the tan out of the tube. But those who have made their own experiences with self-tanning lotion know the adverse consequences. Blotchy skin, discolored clothes, and unpleasant smell are only a few of them. Of course it also does not protect against sunlight.
And sunlight is important! It is not only good for our soul, but also indispensable for our health: Without sunlight our skin is not able to produce vitamin D (“D hormone”), which is necessary for a number of important body functions. Well, now is sunlight beneficial or harmful? Poison and benefit – as often has been – is in the dose. And the right dose is simply varying for people of different skin types.
If you are of a light skin type like Kate a treatment with melanotropin analogues can help. Thereby your body is supplied with the hormone melanotropin or respectively a peptide (melanotan) with the same effect. It is providing an increased production of our skin pigment melanin for better skin protection against sunlight, as well as more visible tan – completely without the known harming effects of excessive sun baths or solarium visits. Melanotan is presently authorized only in some countries for therapy of rare sun allergies, but could also be proper for general use for skin protection.
For all those who want to avoid sun-induced skin damage, but nevertheless also attach importance to a Caribbean complexion, melanotropin analogues like melanotan would be a good alternative to self-tanning lotions, which do not give protection to the skin. But up to now this substances are not yet permitted for general use on humans and are therefore by default not prepared in purity and quality needed for that therapy. This is why such a tanning treatment is only possible with individually prepared substances in the context of a magistral therapy by a specialized doctor, even for famous models like Kate.
DDr. Heinrich, MD