Spray tanning is an alternative method that tans the skin. Where normally a person gets a tan by direct sunlight. Spray tanning uses an active ingredient called dihydroxyacetone or DHA for short. This chemical is applied on the skin and darkens the skin in the process. It is actually more complicated than that because DHA darkens the outermost skin cells or the skin cells that will soon shed.
The process is fairly a quick and convenient and in most cases results can be expected between for as early as 1 hour up to 24hrs later. Some products include a tint and in such cases the tan is appears instantly. The sunless tan usually lasts for five to seven days. Some reports have indicated that a moist body prior to tanning helps increase the longevity of the tan.
The tan itself is not washable and so it is important that care be taken when the dihydroxyacetone mist is administered. Eventually the tan gradually fades from the skin. This is the result of the dead skin cells sloughing from the body. This is a reprieve for many people because naturally there is concern when a chemical is applied on the skin. So in essence the only part that is affected is the skin cells that were due to come off your body, or so we are led to believe.
I mentioned earlier that care must be taken when this sunless tan application is performed. It is highly recommended that person inside the spray tanning booths or at home using a home spraying tanning systems close their eyes while their face is being sprayed. It is also in the best interest of the person to hold their breath because the fumes from the dihydroxyacetone mist might have consequences. Such counter reactions and consequences have not been studied enough to determine any negative effects. It is however best to take the side of caution when it comes to inhalation of any kind of chemical.
Spray tanning is usually performed at spray tanning salons. A professional tanner sprays the skin evenly and this is one of main reasons people visit spray tanning salons to ensure they receive a perfect tan. A less costlier option is going inside one of the spray tanning booths where a tanning mist is applied to your skin. Home tanning systems are also available and many people opt for such a privacy and with such success varies from one product to another.