Spray tan anyone?
By LUCY ORMONDE
There are no winners in the quest for a golden tan. If there’s one thing we can learn from this story, it’s this.
Lying in the sun gives you cancer.
Lying in a tanning bed gives you cancer.
And now research suggests the act of being belted by a high pressure spray gun with a shade of golden brown might also be detrimental to your health.
That’s right, spray tans could give you cancer too.
Scientists have warned when main chemical used in spray tans - it’s called dihydroxyacetone, or DHA – cause tumors and damage DNA if it enters the lungs and is absorbed into the bloodstream. It could also cause medical conditions like asthma to become worse. Apparently, the chemicals are only supposed to be used externally – like in lotions – and are not approved for spray tans. So if they’re accidentally ingested? That’s a little scary.
VIDEO
This according to ABC America:
The active chemical used in spray tans, dihydroxyacetone (DHA), has the potential to cause genetic alterations and DNA damage, according to a panel of medical experts who reviewed 10 of the most-current publicly available scientific studies on DHA for ABC News, including a federal report ABC News obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.
Six medical experts in areas ranging across the fields of dermatology, toxicology and pulmonary medicine said they “have concerns” after reviewing the literature and reports about DHA, the main chemical in the popular “spray-on” tan, which has conventionally been referred to as the “safe” alternative to tanning under ultraviolet lights.
“I have concerns,” said Dr. Rey Panettieri, a toxicologist and lung specialist at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. “The reason I’m concerned is the deposition of the tanning agents into the lungs could really facilitate or aid systemic absorption — that is, getting into the bloodstream.”
None of the studies actually tested human subjects, but researchers are still concerned. And the FDA in America is recommending people wear “protective undergarments, nose filters, lip balm and protective eye wear while spray tanning to reduce the risk of the mist entering the body”.
I’ve only ever had the one spray tan – and when I emerged looking something like an Oompa Loompa I vowed ‘never again’. But the thing is, I don’t remember wearing anything protective aside from that (very attractive) disposable g-string.
So what about you? Do you get spray tans? Does this information worry you?
Comments
68 Comments so far
Everything looks better with a tan! B-) its healthy, glowing and sexy
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I never get spray tans anymore, have had probably about 10 in total in my life. Cant’ stand the smell and anyone kidding themselves that they dont’ stink with them is doing exactly that – kidding themselves, BIG time.
This report didn’t surprise me in the least when I heard it this week.
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Organic ingredients may be well and good, but even organic particles lodged in the lung can cause cancer. Why do people equate organic with totally safe???
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Being alive in the 21st century seems to increase your risk of cancer. I think perhaps the risk is increased for the spray tan applier, the same way it is for hairdressers and nail technicians who are exposed to the chemicals on a frequent basis. With a little bit of research you can find the most non-toxic version of anything. Personally I love beautful porcelain skin. Embrace the colour you’re born with. As long as you’re not blue you’re alive, or you’re a smurf.
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This has really worried me, I spray tan at least every fortnight and spray tan my friends as well just at home.
It’s hard not to inhale the mist.
Need to start embracing the pale!
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there isnt a news post anymore bt i need to bring this news item to the attention of ppl:
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/us-mum-spends-15k-on-injections-to-get-bootylicious-backside/story-fn9076o9-1226395624468
SERIOUSLY they think they look good?!!!!!!!!!! i dont get that woman’s state of mind at all!!!
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no more for me. Not worth the risk
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I’d love it if “pasty white” was the fashion but unless you have perfect peaches and cream skin white skin doesn’t always look great. Fake tan covers up blotchiness, redness and light bruises plus makes cellulite less obvious and makes you look thinner. Not that I get them or think it’s worth getting cancer for, just what I reckon.
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Jesus Christ, what DOESN’T give you cancer? Seems everything in life gives you cancer!
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Like blue pop-tops! And diet coke…
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i use Australias only certified organic tan Eco Tan with no hidden nasties and Ecocert DHA. i wouldn’t use any other tan on my body! you can find them here
http://www.ecotan.com.au
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This doesn’t surprise me at all, something that smells (and often looks) that bad cannot be good for you. It must be a very foul smelling chemical if manufacturers have to ‘cover’ it up with the horrible faux perfume scent.
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Inhaling any abrasive chemical or dust is likely to irritate your lungs, exacerbate asthma – and potentially cause cancer.
Is this news?
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So it’s still not conclusive – yet. I get a spray tan every couple of weeks (takes kilos off). So I will weigh it up no mobile phone, no microwave, no sun (oh sorry now we need it), probably wireless internet, ok cigarettes I know but with everything else causing cancer what hope in hell do we have. I say enjoy life shop shop shop and do what you love.
http://www.katerinaa.com
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Everything these days is said to cause cancer! Bloody hell… In 20years time, they’ll be saying the air we breathe could cause cancer!
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Funny thing is the air you breathe in some places can cause cancer
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It may be cause we humans are trashing our environment and playing with science just to sell more products we don’t need.
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It funny how many people are commenting “of course rubbing chemicals on your skin is bad for you!”
Fake tan is a beauty product made to be put on skin – why would it be more dangerous than any other beauty product lotion? Do the people making those statements not use moisteriser, beauty creams, toner/cleanser/primer, foundation, etc either, since they also contain chemicals?
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The article says that the problem is when it is made into an aerosol, then it can be ingested and inhaled.
It states that the chemical is only supposed to be used as a lotion, where it’s not going to get into the bloodstream nearly as much, if at all.
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This is a topic quite close to my heart, as I have very fair skin and spent my childhood in a form of dance that insisted on fake tan at competitions. This meant days if layering lotion tan on me to the point of me being unrecognisable. One day at a competition at the age of 22 I looked around me at the fake tans and thought “This is not me. What the hell am I doing here?”. I have since quit that type of dance and now embrace my skin tone for what it is. No more fakery! (Pod would be proud). I just don’t see the appeal of it anymore.
Ironically, when I visited Thailand all their make up ads are about skin whitening! And I had many positive comments on my fair skin. We always want what we can’t have!
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Physie?
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Hahaha! How on earth did you guess?
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Haha Physy was my guess too! Whenever I smell that old school bottled tan it makes me nostalgic!
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The ol contest colour… Bloody horrendous stuff
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Haha it was a hard one!
It is alot better these days, the girls aren’t actually allowed to tan until they are 15 and even then its not compulsary…. but yes back in the day it was a horror!
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Oh Pod god bless her, she is doing a marvellous job!!
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Well said! I was going to make the same comment about Thailand and the whitening products. Lots of them were made by the SAME COMPANIES that make tanning products. We’re all getting had ladies. That’s when I decided not to buy into the whole ‘your skin is not the right colour’ line pumped out by the beauty industry. Dove, I’m looking at you…
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Well, I spray tan once a month, drink more wine than the government tells me is healthy, have a reasonably healthy diet and use sunscreen when I go outside, enjoy a social cigarette once in a blue moon and get plenty of sleep. SO apparently I’m fucked. Cancer, come at me, I give up!!!
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“Cancer, come at me, I give up!!!”
Be careful what you ask for.
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Can someone pleae clarify whether I could still use a mousse/cream spray tan such as st tropez or le tan? Is it just the spray ones or ALL fake tan. I have only had 3 spray tans but I have one booked for next week for my birthday….
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Just the spray tans – the danger is inhaling or ingesting the fine mist.
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Than there’s the other side of the coin. Nano-particles in sun-cream.
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You can’t win can you? My children are both very fair-skinned and burn very, very easily. So do I. They get nasty raised red rashes from using chemical sunscreens. The only one I’ve found that works and doesn’t give them a rash is Banana Boat for sensitive skin which is micronised zinc. Every time I put it on them I worry. Living in Qld trying to stay out of the sun is impossible and it’s too bloody hot to wear long sleeves and pants all the time so I don’t know what to do.
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We just do the best we can xx
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My kids are the same.
I use that Banana Boat sunscreen for sensitive skin (the green tube) and it still gives my kids eczema and it stings a bit when they get rashy too. Best out of a bad bunch though.
Doesn’t seem to be too many options out there! And when we are swimming every single day in summer you just have to slather it on, or you cook like a chicken.
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We are sunscreen sensitive here in our house too. Its frightfully expensive, but the only thing that doesn’t give us a rash is the Clinique one. I buy a couple of tubes when they have the “bonus” on, but it is still a ridiculous price!
But it is that or nothing….
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Try the neutrogenia for kids. Might need to buy it on line. BB is good cos it’s a physical block. Less chemicals.
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And vitamin D deficiency, which is also believed to be linked to cancer! I’m 24, pale skinned and have just been diagnosed with a vitamin D deficiency and prescribed supplements. It’s all just so confusing!!
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Hi Chloe, depending where you live in Aust the UVR will differ. Research websites state that fair skinned ppl need about 3hrs of sunlight a week to the bare skin. If you are down south you may have UVR of 3. In Nth Aust UVR is a 6 by 9am, so you’ll want to get the sunlight on the skin before 9am (to reduce the skin damage as skin damages from a UVR of 3). {Not medical advice}
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*** these UV ratings are stated for June. Not summer, Nth Aust will have extreme ratings of 16+ in summer.
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There are a few good organic sunscreens that don’t contain nano-particles. I use one called Soleo Organics on myself and my children. The downside is that because it isn’t easily absorbed into the skin, it is quite greasy and sticky. Still, it seems a lot safer than the sun creams containing nano-particles…
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i love my beautiful pale skin and personally think fake tans look cheap and tacky!
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Here here!! My beautiful fair peaches and cream complexion daughter wanted a fake tan for her deb. I refused to allow it- it’s her pale gorgeous skin makes her herself!! All her friends arrived looking ” fake” and like oompa lumpas and she looked RADIANT!! Her beautiful, gorgeous self!
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I got them a few times last summer when I had a party on. The last one I had actually went up my nose and I had a sore throat for a while afterwards. I dont think I’ll have any more.
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The active ingredient in “organic” tans is still going to be DHA (dihydroxyacetone) which is the culprit here. DHA can be “organic” because it’s derived from sugar. Doesn’t mean you should ingest it.
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Yep, so sick of all the advertising these days telling us everything ‘natural” is safe, and ALL chemicals are bad. Alot of poisons are natural, and even water is a chemical. But who cares, I am just a scientist, what would I know
People are more inclined to listen to some beautiful eco-princess who has fallen for all that green marketing crap.
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Pale is the way! I have had one spray tan in my life (forced to by bridezilla so I wouldn’t ruin the photos but that’s another story…) and very soon after I developed a serious chest infection that I couldn’t shake after 6 weeks and 3 rounds of different antibiotics. After that I was diagnosed with asthma as well which I have never had before. When I went for the tan there was no mention of goggles/masks and there was no warning to hold my breath so I inhaled quite a bit of the tanning spray. To spray tan lovers – it’s not worth the risk!!!
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Why is this news surprising to anyone? Of course rubbing chemicals into your skin is dangerous, and quite likely cancer-causing. I had a couple of spray tans over the summer, but the product used was completely organic, apparently, though I still don’t trust that it was 100% safe, and it’s only something I’d do very occasionally, for a special event or ahead of a beach holiday. I agree with the poster who said that it’s time to make pale skin fashionable again!
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Let’s all sign the petition to ban dihydrogen monoxide and be rid of chemicals out of our lives for good.
Dihydrogen monoxide:
is called “hydroxyl acid”, the substance is the major component of acid rain.
contributes to the “greenhouse effect”.
may cause severe burns.
is fatal if inhaled.
contributes to the erosion of our natural landscape.
accelerates corrosion and rusting of many metals.
may cause electrical failures and decreased effectiveness of automobile brakes.
has been found in excised tumors of terminal cancer patients.
Despite the danger, dihydrogen monoxide is often used:
as an industrial solvent and coolant.
in nuclear power plants.
in the production of Styrofoam.
as a fire retardant.
in many forms of cruel animal research.
in the distribution of pesticides. Even after washing, produce remains contaminated by this chemical.
as an additive in certain “junk-foods” and other food products.
When will people realize how dangerous chemicals are?
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Dihydrogen monoxide is water.
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well done, that’s the joke.
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Ha ha – well obviously not all chemicals, but many of the chemicals used in everyday products are dangerous and potentially carcinogenic, and it pays to be cautious, I think.
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Thankfully there are more and more organic tan products are popping up. Worth the research
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This is a really interesting study. I have been spray tanning for 6 years with my small business in Brisbane ‘Hot Stuff Beauty’, and although we use extraction fans, we will be promoting now the recommendation of clients wearing the recommended protection while tanning – face mask, eye covers etc – and recommend the application of a tanning cream on the face area rather than having the spray applied directly to the face. We will be implementing this strategy as soon as possible and will eagerly await more scientific evidence of this study.
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Nice to see a tanning studio putting client safety first
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I really think we need to make “pasty white” fashionable again.
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Me too Renae. Me too.
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I’ll lead the way!!
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Oh yes this would be a dream come true to have people wanting to be as white as me. I hate hate hate sitting on the beach next to tanned people, I feel horrible like I’m abnormal. I seriously can’t be fluffed with fake tan it’s way to hard to get it looking even and natural.
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Right there with you! Me and my “ivory” foundation will join you.
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Plenty of fair skinned people have beautiful, amazing skin looking after it they way it is, but when I hear the words “pasty white” – I think of that twilight guy – and nothing horrifies me more. The thought of him makes me love every tanned person with all my heart.
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This doesn’t suprise me in the least, I also don’t think anything good can come from rubbing chemicals into your skin with fake tan either…if you read the ingredients that alone is scary! I love the look of a tan, but I am not willing to pursue it due to the risk.
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I get fake tans regularly (like at least 1 a month). I would be more concerned for the beauty therapist then myself tho.
Isn’t it like everything – keep it in moderation? They haven’t said how much of the chemical needs to be entering your lungs to be a danger. Are they talking once a month, once a week or once a day levels??
TBH – I’m not too concerned. But maybe I’m just too complacent after every second report is contradicted by the previous study.
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I think everything in moderation is a good ideal to have. But I don’t think getting yourself spray with a cocktail of potentially toxic cocktails once a month is moderation.
Don’t the people doing the tanning wear masks? I don’t know, I’ve never had a spray tan.
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No, Not EVERYTHING in moderation.
Some things, even in moderation, can still kill you.
Like tobacco, asbestos, arsenic, drinking bleach…
COME ON PEOPLE. They’re saying DHA ALTERS YOUR DNA. That’s not a little thing, that’s a MAJOR thing.
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I think everyone needs to slow down until there is more conclusive studies/evidence. It seems every second day something new will cause us cancer, even this iPhone I am using!
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I wonder if this finding will change anything in the kid beauty pageant world. They get this stuff sprayed on them all the time.
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Spray tanning is the least of their worries…
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