Spray tanning uses the active ingredient dihyroxyacetone and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regards DHA as a safe chemical when applied directly on the skin. Aside from this apparently seal of approval from the FDA there are some risk factors associated with spray tanning. The greatest risk being direct contact with the face. Dihydroxyacetone penetrating the nostrils might also pose a risk and the same could be true for inhalation through the mouth. Contact with the lips is another risk that one should be vary of.
There are precautions one could take to help reduce such risks. The obvious being closing one eyes when the mist is applied to or near the face. Holding your breath while the tanning spray is applied near your face is also another precaution one could take. A better method might be wearing eye goggles and nose plugs, and It’s a good idea to take them along to spray tanning salons and to wear them inside the spray tanning booths. Unfortunately there aren’t any case studies with regards to prolonged use of dihdroxyacetone. It is better to be safe rather than sorry and siding with caution is will surely be of some benefit. You should also exercise caution if you are performing the tan on yourself when ever using a home spray tanning system.
The biggest risk could possibly be the illusion that some people think this type of tan will give them some protection from sunlight. This couldn’t be anymore farther from the truth. A person who receives a tan using DHA has no protection from harmful ultraviolet rays. There is no immunity whatsoever, contrary to many misconception. Spray tanning merely colors your outer skin cells and ultraviolet rays may very penetrate such artificial coloring.
Using caution is always best and spray tanning is relatively new. A product that hasn’t been scrutinized enough in a practical sense. While true that the FDA doesn’t consider dihydroxyacetone harmful, common sense does says that moderation is usually best. Surely there must be some repercussions to having one tan after another consecutively for prolonged durations.
Making a habit to protect your eyes, nostrils, hair, lips, fingertips and fingernails each time spray tanning is applied to your skin is a great start. Coloration is a real concern and the ultimately the goal of spraying tanning is to look good and feel great but such achievement might be jeopardized if any aspects of the body I mentioned become colorized in the process.