DHA-based Sunless Tanning Compositions
Growing concerns around skin cancer due to the exposure of UV-rays present in sunlight, have led to an increased demand for sunless tanning compositions. American Academy of Dermatology recommends the use of a sunless tanning composition for anyone who longs for a tan and recommends avoiding tanning beds and sun tanning owing to the potential risk of melanomas.
Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is a triose saccharide, which when applied to the skin causes a chemical reaction with the amino acids present in dead skin cells to give a tanned texture without exposure to sunlight. The resultant tan lasts for about a week.
In this brief, we present a few findings on DHA-based sunless tanning compositions.
Technology & IP Insights
Based on the research conducted, it was found that the concentration of dihydroxyacetone used in the tanning compositions ranged from 0.025% to 40 % by weight. Further, besides DHA, other tanning agents that are being used in the compositions include melanin, mahakanni, methylglyoxal, erythrulose, alloxan, and 2,3-dihydroxysuccindialdehyde.
Foamix Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Unilever and Procter & Gamble are the major players in the field of DHA-based sunless tanning compositions.
Dov Tamarkin, Meir Eini, Doron Friedman, Paul Robert Tanner and Joseph Oreste Carnali are the key inventors working in the domain.
It was found that Unilever’s patents claiming sunless tanning compositions contain adjuvants such as glycine, crosslinked cationic copolymer, and glucuronolactone. These adjuvants stabilize the composition, improve color intensity, avoid streaking of the developing tan, reduce the time to full maturation and provide deeper color intensity.
USA, Europe, Australia and Canada exhibit the most patent filling activity in the domain, with the number of American patents being way ahead of the others.
