Skip to main content

Is a Spray Tan Safe?

Spray tan

So many of us enjoy a beautiful glowing tan! 

A fake tan is safer than a real tan. 

But, spray tanning in a spray booth has been in the news. I have never gotten a spray tan at a tanning studio. I'm more of a DIY tan girl. But, I know a lot of people like to go and get a spray tan.

But, is a spray tan safe? 


As it turns out, the ingredient, Dihydroxyacetone abbreviated as DHA, used in spray tanning products was approved back in
1977 for external use only in a cream or lotion form.
 
It was not meant to be sprayed! It should not get into the body by breathing it in or getting it on and in mucous membranes
including the eyes, nose or lips. 

Studies done on non-human cells show that DHA can cause DNA changes and mutations that could lead to cancer or possible birth defects.

Here is an excerpt from the FDA product information page for
sunless tanners:

As noted above, the use of DHA in "tanning" booths as an all-over spray has not been approved by the FDA, since safety data to support this use has not been submitted to the Agency for review and evaluation, When using DHA-containing products as an all-over spray or mist in a commercial spray "tanning" booth, it may be difficult to avoid exposure in a manner for which DHA is not approved, including the area of the eyes, lips, or mucous membrane, or even internally.


Consequently, FDA advises asking the following questions when considering commercial facilities where DHA is applied by spraying or misting:
  • Are consumers protected from exposure in the entire area of the eyes, in addition to the eyes themselves?
  • Are consumers protected from exposure on the lips and all parts of the body covered by mucous membrane?
  • Are consumers protected from internal exposure caused by inhaling or ingesting the product?
If the answer to any of these questions is "no," the consumer is not protected from the unapproved use of this color additive. Consumers should request measures to protect their eyes and mucous membranes and prevent inhalation.

What about sunless tanning products sold in retail stores, such as creams and lotions?

DHA is approved for external application to the human body, which is the way these products are intended to be used. Consumers can easily avoid inhaling them or applying them to the area of the eye or mucous membrane.

Take Precautions when Getting a Spray Tan

What all this means is, when you get a spray tan in a spray tan booth, you need to wear:

Protective Undergarments
Nose filters
Lip Balm
Protective Eyewear

DHA Concern
There is another concern regarding DHA. It was always thought that DHA interacted and stayed in the outer dead cell layers of the skin only.

Some tests have shown that DHA was absorbed by living layers of the skin. 

The FDA wrote a follow-up paper regarding DHA absorption by the skin, concluding that "probably" only 
0.5 percent of each application of DHA becomes "systemically available" which means it would
be distributed throughout the body by the bloodstream.  

The FDA concluded that this is low percentage meaning a low health risk and no further testing was needed. It seems to me that more human testing is in order 

I now question whether a pregnant woman should use any kind of tanning product containing DHA due to the fact that a small amount is absorbed into the bloodstream. 

Over all, the health risks of a fake tan are less than the risks of a real tan. 

Be sure to follow the protective recommendations when getting a spray tan. 

I personally feel that tanning creams are the safer way to go. 


Safe Safe. Stay Healthy.
xo
Licensed Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Makeup Artist

PS: Thanks for using my amazon💋
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. That keeps my blog running and supports the care of animals in need!😸













Comments

Popular posts from this blog

White Bumps Under Eyes: Milia

Have you noticed that you have little white looking bumps under your eyes? Some people call it chicken skin because the bumps look like plucked chicken skin. 🐔 Most likely those little white bumps are milia. They can feel hard or pearly. These bumps are not acne. Milia can occur when dead skin cells become trapped beneath the outer layer of skin. Keratin becomes trapped and builds up. A small benign cyst can form which is the milia. It's a cyst!?! Don't let that word scare you. They are harmless, but unwanted bumps.  They can occur on any area of the skin that tends to be on the dry side. They cannot be squeezed out like a blackhead or pimple because they have no opening. A layer of skin covers them. A hole must be created in them using a needle, then they can be extracted out. Read more about blackhead, whiteheads and blind pimples This is a common problem for the under-eye area. It is a dry, delicate area of the skin. I see it a lot on my clients. Heavy products

Dermatofibromas

This post is all about dermatofibromas and some remedies to help make them look better and ways hide them. It includes my Amazon Affiliate Links to help you find the products I talk about. Q. I have this brown bump on my leg that won't go away. What can I do about it? A. It could be a dermatofibroma. I see them often on my leg waxing clients. A dermatofibroma is a tan to brown benign raised bump more common in women than men and occur commonly on the legs. The bump feels hard under the skin and can be itchy, tender and easily irritated. A doctor will tell you not to worry about it because it's benign, but it's kind of ugly! Dermatofibromas are also called Benign Fibrous Histiocytomas. They are the result of some sort of injury to the skin such as an ingrown hair or a bug bite.  Be careful when shaving because a dermatofibroma may bleed and become sore if nicked. Don't think you can get rid of it by shaving it off. It will be an awful looking sore and will j

Dermatofibroma on Leg

A Dermatofibroma is an unsightly brown or red bump that is very common on the legs. They are also called Benign Fibrous Histiocytomas and are more common in women than men. They can hurt, itch and become inflamed easily. They are the result of some sort of injury to the skin such as an ingrown hair or a bug bite.  I have tried lots of home remedies on my dermatofibroma. Some help it look better than others but the ugly thing is still there! Read more about dermatofibroma remedies. There is only one way to remove it for good...surgery. It must be surgically excised out. A dermatofibroma goes deep into the skin. It will only grow back if it is cut off of the skin at surface level. The problem with the removal is it leaves a long scar that is about 2 inches or so long. It has to be done that way to be able to sew the skin back together so it is smooth and not puckery. Here is a picture of a scar from the removal of a dermatofibroma. This scar was also treated with a laser to imp