Our skin makes up to approx 16% of our body weight and covers say approx 2 square metres on the overall surface of the skin. It is the body's largest organ. We're made up of pretty important stuff I would say. Skin on our bodies is made up of layers. The Epidermis is the outer layer; the Dermis the inside layer. The epidermis is a thin layer; the dermis a thicker layer underneath. At the deepest part of the epidermis there are new cells being made continuously which rise to the surface of the skin. These cells die over some time but the protein Keratin in our bodies which
is very tough, fills the dead cells. This in turn gives the body a strong protective barrier helping the deeper cells from invasions from disease,damage and from drying out. too. A new epidermis is made approx every 30 days as the old ,dead cells are gradually rubbed off. to give way for the new cells from underneath. And so it goes.

Thinking of the tanner--as far as the skin goes concerning water; any normal skin can take this eg showering and bathing-it's normal. Temperature of water may have some effect on the process of oil removal from the healthy skin but not on the tanned skin. The effects lie really with the use of soaps etc in the water which can erode the healthy naturally moistured skin. The tanned skin has probably had much re-hydration and moisture replenishing from the nourishment in the tan creams themselves keeping the skin healthy.

The tan process starts with the specialised cells called melanocytes which produce melanin-a brown substance which absorbs some of the sun's harmful UV rays.. Fair skinned people only have melanin in the lower layers of their epidermis. People with dark skin have larger amounts of melanin in all the layers-freckles and moles are the small parts of the skin with more melanin then other areas.

As the dead surface parts of the skin are continually being rubbed off anyway-- with scrubbing it is intensified-but this has no influence on the colour of the tan as this colour is underneath this dead cell layer. The colour is on the inside of the epidermis. Showering etc affects only the outside of this layer. As the skin cells are filled with pigment at the end of the browning process a very small amount may go in the showering so to speak- but un-noticeable.

I am always reminded of the wonder of our bodies and all their coping functions. The skin is a wonder to behold if we remain responsible, safe tanners and give it the nourishment it needs just as we naturally eat good food each day.