Is Spray Tanning Dangerous?

Written by Melanie Kozlan, Four Green Steps.com

At this point most are well aware of the dangers of tanning- but what about spray tanning made popular by the tanning advocates on Jersey Shore? Before lathering yourself in orange-tinted paint, read this:

From Planet Green:

The Mayo Clinic reports that the main ingredient in most sunless tanning sprays and lotions is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA reacts with your top layer of skin which causes the darkened color. After this skin layer is sloughed off in about a week to ten days the tan wears off.

According to MedicineNet, DHA has been listed with the FDA since 1973 and has been used in cosmetics for over 30 years. That said, DHA is restricted to external use only. This means it shouldn't be ingested. If you go to spray tanning booths make sure you tightly close your eyes, mouth, and ears so that you don't ingest the stuff. Better yet, have a practitioner spray it on so it's a more controlled application. Or if you want to play it completely safe, do it yourself and choose one of these completely safe tanning lotions. Most importantly, sunless tanning sprays do not protect you from sun rays.