During a relaxing day at the beach, you’re probably just enjoying the sun. But what’s really happening is that the ultraviolet rays from the sun are penetrating your epidermis causing a chemical reaction that’s producing new cells and trying to protect your skin—it’s melanogenesis!

Or, in other words, you’re getting a tan.

Ever wonder how you can go from being pasty white to golden brown after spending some time in the sun? The process our body goes through to get a tan is really quite amazing. Let’s take a look at the science of a tan, the sun, our skin, and even a few things we can do to help the process so we can get the tan we all crave safer and faster.

Melanogenesis, Melanin and Melanocytes

Melanogenesis is the process where special cells in your body called melanocytes produce melanin as a protective response to the sun’s UV rays and can lead to a tan. This type of tan will be much longer lasting and actually work to protect your skin from further damage, as the melanin produced will absorb the sun’s UV rays.

Melanin, from the Greek word melas, meaning dark or black, is the pigment known for its darkening properties and is what is really behind a tan. Melanin is found in the skin, eyes, hair, nasal cavity, and inner ear. The body produces melanin as a natural protection against the sun’s ultraviolet rays. The more melanin produced in the skin and hair, the darker it becomes.

The two types of skin melanin are phaeomelanin and eumelanin. The difference between these two varieties is that phaeomelanin contains a more reddish hue, while eumelanin has a dark brown color.

Depending on the combination of your hair color, skin tone, race, genetics, and previous exposure to sunlight, the production levels of these two pigments may be different. For example, someone with fair skin and blonde or red hair may produce less eumelanin than phaeomelanin, making it difficult to get a “tan” in the traditional sense. The lips are another example of an area with a greater concentration of phaeomelanin because they are usually more red or pink colored. An individual with a greater phaeomelanin production will respond to sunlight with a more pinkish color. On the other hand, a person with dark hair and an olive complexion may tan very easily, as their melanocytes produce more eumelanin than phaeomelanin. This will make the skin a darker color.

Melanin production takes a fair amount of time—that’s why most people can’t get a tan in one day. And while the buildup of melanin helps protect your skin and makes it much more resilient to the harmful properties of the sun, we all know that too much time in the sun can do some serious damage. Scientifically speaking, we need a way to stimulate melanogenesis. We need to speed up this process so we can produce more melanin, spend less time in the sun and get the healthy tan we want.

Tanning Pills to the Rescue

How about trying an all natural, clinically proven tanning supplement? Yes, we’ve been talking science here, and in clinical studies, the ingredients and formulation of this supplement have been shown to get results. Not to mention rave reviews from those who have tried it.

Melatropintm is an all-natural blend of vitamins, amino acids, minerals and antioxidants. The ingredient list includes Vitamins A and B6, the amino acid L-tyrosine, the mineral Copper, and antioxidants Lutein and Lycopene. These specific amino acids and minerals are utilized by the body to help produce melanin, while the vitamins, minerals and anitoxidents can help promote skin cell health.

For example, we know that the amino acid L-tyrosine can promote and stimulate the production of melanin in the skin with a little help from vitamin B6 or the mineral copper, and of course, UV rays. In fact, the proven ingredients in Melatropintm are scientifically formulated and, once activated by the sun, can work to stimulate the chemical reactions in your body that cause you to get tan. Taking Melatropintm speeds up this natural process, so you can spend less time in the sun and still get a deep, dark, lasting tan.

There’s also clinical proof that Melatropintm works. Its unique formulation was developed after years of clinical research. And Melatropintm is made in the United States, so it adheres to strict quality control. Each raw component is tested and validated with a Certificate of Analysis (CoA), confirming its purity and potency. What’s more, in a 30-day clinical trial, Melatropintm was shown to effectively improve skin tone by more than 300%. In addition, participants in the study reported feeling more satisfied with their tan and the speed of their results. Melatropintm is safe too and there have been no reported side effects with its use.

There aren’t many other tanning supplements out there that are backed with that kind of scientific proof.

So next time you’re out basking in the sun, take a few seconds to think about the science and what’s really happening— melanogenesis! As the rays of the sun beat down on your skin, all those melanocytes are working to make melanin. They’re protecting you and giving you that nice tan you crave.