Go ahead. Google "Coca-Cola tan." You'll find a page full of articles on the practice which apparently may have been started by some chucklehead in Britain (the land of the pale).

Haven't heard about it? This is the practice of applying the bubbly beverage to your skin instead of - oh I don't know - pouring it over ice and drinking it!

Yes, it is true that Coke has caramel dye in it, which helps to give the soda its rich dark color. But (and it's a big but), slathering it on your skin to enhance your tan is simply sticky and moronic!

And, any dermatologist or cosmetologist worth spit would tell you there is no such thing as a healthy tan. Any change in the color of your skin, including that caused by the sun's rays, is considered to be skin damage.

According to the director of cosmetic and dermatological research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, Joshua Zeichner:

While some feel that Coca-Cola can speed up your tan, it actually can be dangerous, and I recommend staying away from it. Applying it to the skin may lead to a temporary darkening or staining of the skin, but because sodas are acidic, it may exfoliate dead cells, enhancing the ability of UV light penetrate into the skin. Ultimately, this may increase your risk of a sun burn."

Which can lead to dark spots, premature wrinkles and last but definitely worst - skin cancer. I can't believe after all the years of education on the subject, there are  people who think suntanning is healthy.

The only "healthy tan" is one that comes out of a bottle or is sprayed on and there are plenty of self-tanning products out there that do a decent job, but Coca-Cola is not one of them!


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