Spray Tanning - A Safe Alternative to Sunbathing

Who wouldn’t desire for a golden glow without wasting hours lying on tanning beds and soaking up sun’s harmful UV rays directly on to your skin!  Well spray tanning is certainly a time-saving and safe alternative to achieve that perfect sun kissed look. Spray tanning is more of an art form and has gained popularity because of the concerns with tanning beds, and harmful effects of natural sun. Recent studies have shown that the overuse of sun beds can pose many health risks to the skin. And with spray tans the risk of skin cancer is eliminated as a person is not required to expose in the harmful rays of sun for hours.

What is Spray Tanning and How It Works?

Spray tanning is also known by many names like sunless tanning, airbrush tanning, UV-free tanning, self tanning and fake tanning. Airbrush tanners are made from a chemical called Dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which is a simple carbohydrate. This chemical reacts with the amino acids on the outer layer of skin which changes its color. The DHA starts to work within about two hours of the tan application and carries on for twelve hours.

DHA is a non-toxic sugar substance that has been FDA (Federal Drug Administration) approved since 1977. Bronzers and moisturizers are added into the solution. The coloring at first comes from bronzers, until DHA has time to react with skin and gradually darkens dead skin cells. Taking a shower jus after a spray session is not suggested because it takes eight hours for a spray tan to fully set in and for DHA to finish its chemical reaction with skin cells.

Is Spray Tanning Safe?

FDA (Federal Drug Administration) has declared DHA safe and suitable for use in cosmetics and to color the skin but the agency warns against inhalation or ingestion of the chemical. It is a natural sugar that is also found in walnuts and rape seed oil plants and is often used as a sweetener.

Spray tanning is not recommended for pregnant women and DHA should not be inhaled, ingested, or exposed to areas covered by mucous membranes including the lips, nose, and areas in and around the eye. The caution is advised due to unknown health risks that chemical can cause if used internally. Some professional salons offer safety equipments like nose and ears plugs, and goggles to be worn during the application process.

Some people are allergic to DHA and are prone to reaction if they try tanning with any sunless tanning solutions. So it’s better to have a patch test before tanning.

Spray tanning at home and professional salon: -

Home application of spray tan is safe and also popular because you just need to spend on one product and can use it several times. The spray tan or canned solutions for home use are available at any store, moreover, there are so many product choices available in the market. But certain areas of the body like back are not easily reached here one needs professional help. And that is why application of spray tan at a professional salon is better, quicker and hassle free.

Marc is the owner of a tanning salon in Brisbane, QLD. The salon is managed by expert team of beauty professionals who are engaged in providing spray tan services in Brisbane.