Which Is Worse, Spray Tans Or Real Tans?
With all this conflicting information about sunlight, Vitamin D, tanning booths and more, it’s hard to know what’s safe anymore. Truth is, spray tans may not be the best solution to your tanning needs. In fact, it would be dangerous to your health.
Even the FDA believes spray tans are dangerous — although you most likely have never heard that. If you go to a spray tanning salon, you are likely to be told that the treatment is completely safe and has the full backing of the U.S. government.
In fact, the spray tan solution, DHA, contains lead, mercury and arsenic. In the 1970’s the U.S. government approved DHA for bronzers intended to be rubbed on your skin — but it has not specifically approved its use in spray tan booths. When it is inhaled or sprayed onto the porous mucous membranes of your body, it can enter your bloodstream, leading federal regulators to call the procedure “unsafe”.
DHA has been known to cause coughing, difficulty breathing, fainting, and dizziness. The greatest danger comes if you undergo the procedure without protecting your eyes, nose and mouth.
Sources:
CBS3 May 17, 2006
Associated Content September 19, 2008
Let’s see what Dr. Mercola has to say about this…
- As the misguided propaganda against sun exposure took off in the 1980s, alternatives to getting that glowing tanned look started to sprout. First came the self tanners that left you looking like a streaky carrot, followed by any number of lotions, powders, and eventually, spray tanning booths.
As is usually the case, consumers tend to believe that if a product is on the market it must be safe. Unfortunately, that assumption often turns out to be wrong. And such may be the case with spray tanning booths as well.
Spray tans are generally considered a healthy alternative to baking in the sun, but that quick tan can come at a steep price. Far steeper than tanning in the sun following safe tanning guidelines, and with absolutely none of the health benefits that the sun will provide.
Most Significant Reason Why Spray Tans are Harmful
They give you the illusion of health by allowing you and others to believe that you have had significant UVB exposure to improve your vitamin D levels, when in fact they don’t increase your vitamin D levels at all. […more]
So How Do We Safely Get A Tan?
Having a tan, after safely exposing yourself to the sun or a safe tanning bed, IS healthy. Saturating your body with potentially toxic chemicals to give it some color is not.
For more information about the numerous health benefits of safe sun exposure, check out Dark Deception.
Fake tan is way worse. It just LOOKS fake. Health wise who knows.
I think both spray tans and real tans are dangerous to your overall health. Love your natural skin tone color!!!!
Interesting article but if you pay attention to the ‘fine print’ this woman is only advertising her book. Tanning beds are dangerous, I’ve had two friends who were careful and reckless, when using a tanning bed, and they were both treated for malignant melanoma. Personally I think a little bit of sun is your best bet when it comes to tanning.
I have done tons of research on which tanning methods are dangerous, and i don’t believe that spray tans that are done at a tanning salon are dangerous at all as long as you cover your mouth, nose, and eyes. Spray tanning is much safer than regular tanniong in a tanning bed and i suggest this to anyone who is looking for a safer alternative to getting a natural and even tan.
Well my friend thinks that spray tanning is so much safer than regular tanning beds, she said “at her place she goes its super safe, even the people who work there said so.” Personally I think that its all bad. The harmful toxins from spray tan and I mean who doesn’t love laying on a bed full of lightbulbs just burning into your skin!
Tanning beds are a big factor in melanoma skin cancer, it is highly toxic, i went to get a spray tan actually today and when i got out of the booth i was choking and coughing, and thought i was going to throw up, there has to be some kind of toxic chemicals in the spray..ugh!!
I have regular professional spray tans, if I am going to a special occasion, they are great, as I am guranteed an all over golden even tan! and I don’t want to be aged fropm the sun, I have fair skin with freckles and my spraytan gives me the color I would be after lying on a beach for three weeks! except with the skin cancer scares!
Great Page
Thanks,
Laura