People usually revere tanned skin as a sign of beauty and good health. However, skin that is exposed to the harmful UVA and UVB rays of the sun is in big problem.
Sun-damaged skin is prone to premature aging, causing wrinkles, uneven skin tone, enlarged pores and age spots.
In addition, UV exposure is the leading cause of skin cancer, with melanoma (the deadliest skin cancer) almost exclusively caused by sun exposure or use of tanning beds.
Spray-on tans are a good alternative to suntans. They can provide a realistic, natural-looking tan without any UV exposure at all.
Spray tans color the skin using an FDA-approved compound called DHA that simply tints the dead skin cells at the very top layer of the epidermis.
A spray tan does not fade; it disappears as the layer of skin is sloughed off – generally within 7 days.
A ‘spray tan’ can either be applied at home by oneself or can be applied in a booth in a salon by trained personnel, to ensure even coverage.
At a salon, the cost is usually between $25 and $40 per application, and the effects last about a week. After application, the tanning substance stays on the skin for about four hours before it can be showered off.
You should avoid inhaling the compound during application, and remember that a ‘spray tan’ does not offer any protection from the harmful rays of the sun.
The DHA product itself is safe and recommended if used to avoid tanning.
Source: Advanced Dermatology, P.C.
You’re right on the money. Here, a lot of pressure is coming on to sunbed salons because of the UV issue. Spray tanning is taking off as a safer alternative to either sunbeds or lying on the beach.