You Just Can’t Win: Spray Tans Might Give You Cancer, Too

[witchcurlgirl]

Oh, hey: Now spray tanning might give you cancer.

The chemical that actually darkens skin, dihydroxyacetone or DHA, was only approved by the Food and Drug Administration for external use in self-tanning lotions. The FDA does not recommend spray-tanning and says DHA should never be inhaled or ingested. Scientists say that more research is required, but that there is evidence that DHA may cause problems when it is inhaled. And inhalation is nearly impossible to avoid when microparticles are being sprayed through the air at close range in an enclosed space.

"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...These compounds in some cells could actually promote the development of cancers or malignancies, and if that's the case then we need to be wary of them."

This is of potential concern not only to people who may get spray tans — just think of the Kardashians! — but to salon workers who experience prolonged exposure to the airborne spray.

You Just Can't Win: Spray Tans Might Give You Cancer, Too

[sputnik]

easy: just stop tanning, real or fake.

[Laurent]

<=== Embraced the paleness years ago.

[sputnik]

^^
same here.

[OrangeSlice]

Gee, spreading chemicals that alter the color of your skin all over your body might not be good for you? Who would have thought?

[Belt Up]

I'll take my chances.

[Air Quotes]

Does anyone not look orange after that shit?

[Waterslide]

^I think everybody looks orange after spray tanning. Better to suffer looking like skim milk than burnt orange peel.

[McJag]

My skin color is what my Mother called "that dead white color" and blames on my Dad's side of the family. Ain't no tan going on my skin. White people need to get over being white! Just accept your own color.

[ConstanceSpry]

I can't tan, even if I wanted to. I just turn red. But even red is better than orange.

[lurkur]

My skin color is what my Mother called "that dead white color" and blames on my Dad's side of the family. Ain't no tan going on my skin. White people need to get over being white! Just accept your own color.

Words of wisdom for ANYbody!

[fgg]

people get cancer from basically everything. you just pick your poison.

[angelais]

Pale is the new tan.

[MrsDark]

I use sunscreen and by the end of the summer I have a decent enough color. It's nowhere near as dark as I used to get when I deliberately baked. But good enough for me.

[gas_chick]

I am the whitest white girl I know and I've been proud of it for years. It is one reason I look better than most of my friends who are my age and tanned themselves into leather.