Tanning | Early Tests Indicate Link Between Cancer & Spray Tanning

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The Ed.

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I'm always cautious to report on these stories. I'm the first to criticise anyone for scaremongering but this story is out there in the press and, to be honest, it's relevant and worth writing about. So, write about it I shall, but with (I hope!) a healthy dose of common sense and reality.

The spray tan has always been considered the 'safer option' compared to demonised sunbeds and irresponsible tanning habits but now, a study from the University of Pennsylvania has indicated that some ingredients of spray tan formulas should not be inhaled.

The chemical baddie in this story is DHA (dihydroxyacetone) - it's the ingredient that actually darkens the skin. It was first approved for use by the FDA in the 70s but at that point it was only intended to be used in tanning creams. Not one of the beauty brains at the time could have looked into the tan-coloured future and foreseen the development and subsequent popularity of spray tans but here they are. The problem is, with spray tans the DHA is dispersed into the air and potentially into the lungs and bloodstream - something that was never considered when initially approving it for tanning creams.

Dr. Rey Panettieri, a toxicologist and lung specialist at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine had this to say about the findings.

❝I have concerns. 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.❞​

Note that he has 'concerns' and we should be 'wary'. This is not a final damnation on spray tans as being carcinogenic. He goes on to say,

❝DHA should not be inhaled or ingested...The use of DHA in 'tanning' booths as an all-over spray has not been approved by the FDA since safety data to support this use has not been submitted to the agency for review and evaluation.❞​

The agency has advised consumers who spray tan (and of course, therapists who offer it as a treatment) are "not protected from the unapproved used of this colour additive if they are inhaling the mist or allowing it to get inside their body." The agency recommends, "consumers should request measures to protect their eyes and mucous membranes and prevent inhalation."

As I mentioned at the beginning, these are the conclusions of early tests that have been conducted on non human cells - further studies will be conducted. It's an issue that we should be aware of but not an issue that should send us into a full scale panic.

I'd be interested to know how many therapists wear masks when spray tanning and how many clients have ever expressed a desire to wear a mask or cover eyes etc. I know that whenever I've had a spray tan neither myself or my therapist have worn a mask. Has this ever been a concern to you? Does this concern you now?

Until then...geek on!

The Ed.
 

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I always offer a mask to my clients. Most of them refuse to wear them.

I don't wear it as I wear glasses and mask steams them up.

Personally I guess most of what we inhale is potentially dangerous- even a walk I London's fumes smells pretty deadly :). if people chose to smoke and they are not concerned about the lung cancer they will also be choosing to be spray tanned to look beautiful. still this is a healthier alternative to the sun beds or sun.

We'll watch this space :)






alternative.
 
Not exactly the healthy alternative to sunshine and sunbeds now is it. Im quite worried about these findings. as the therapist I'm inhaling the spray day after day and have been for over 10 years. Maybe the future is back to rub on tans instead :( give me a real sunshine tan any day.
 
Only recently have I started thinking about wearing a mask I still don't at present but definitely may start, but it's never been fear for my health but more the fact I'm fed up with blowing my nose and the amount of tan that comes out of it after numerous tans! Someone told me off for drinking diet coke the other day as they said it would give me cancer so we can't win really!
🌸
 
diet coke, sunshine, red meat ,white meat, fat, butter, sacchrin, alcohol. tea, coffee, bread, crisps, sweets, chocolate.......... what I am trying to say is that there are risks with everything we do and eat that COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE cancer.

Its time we actually stopped pointing at things that COULD cause cancer and find a cure!!!!!!

Im a skin cancer surviver, my mum has had breast cancer, my dad has had bowel cancer. Next week itll be rice krispy cakes and red jelly. Just by being alive can give us cancer, but we can beat it together IF we dont let it frighten us.

So he has concerns and should be wary, well thats very nice but lets actually PROVE things before we start sending people screaming in fear.

xxx

xxxxxxxxxxx
 
I haven't had one Spray Tan client as yet and was already considering taking this off my list of services offered, as so far, I have only been asked for Shellac or Minx. This may spur on my decision now to sell my Spray Tanning bits and bobs.....
 
Before we all start fretting over yet another burnt toast gives you cancer scare lets put this into perspective for a moment

This is early days test results and generally speaking the inhalation of airborne DHA particles is more prolific in automated booths which are much more popular in the USA than here.

These booths offer a confined space,extremely fine airborne particles and no means of extraction of such particles.

If you are using a HVLP machine which gives of far less of a fine mist compared to these automated machines then the sheer volume of fine mist in the air is considerably reduced,add to this application a modular extract/filter and you are creating the safest possible environment for both you and your customer.

If in doubt offer your customer a mask and use one yourself.....use an air filter module...all these things you should be doing anyway.:wink2:

I think what is appropriate is that we respond to this article in a professional manner with the consumer...dont fob it of but be up front ....
So what will you say to them???

Well maybe this link will help you with some ideas http://www.salongeek.com/skin-geek/184169-dha-health-warning.html

HTH :hug:
 
Who remembers the scaremongering about uv lamps giving gel clients skin cancer?
I'm sure I just read that he has been looking at tests carried out on NON human cells.
Back in the 60's mothers were told not to breast feed because bottle milk was better. Well we all know the truth of that don't we! That it was an old wives tale that foxglove flowers helped people with heart problems, then they found that foxgloves contain digitalis, which is the main drug given to treat heart conditions.
I've been spray tanning for a while now and I will continue to do so, I will continue to make sure my gun is correctly set to minimise over spray, I will continue to spray in a well ventilated room and if anyone out there wants to give up this service then I'll say, send your clients my way, because whilst I know for a fact that the sun will cause skin cancer for people with a pre disposition I do not know for a fact that my repeated exposer to spray tans will do the same and I'm quiet sure that, just like the uv exposer from lamps, the amount of exposer that clients have is not enough to even make them sneeze.
Slow day at the newspaper :rolleyes:
 
Health fears raised over spray tans - Telegraph

Makes me laugh so whats next now ? Please be aware spray tan technicians as the use of spray tan products will turn you into aliens at least into some pretty ones.

i bet that in the next ten years they gona find that the dog poo is radioactive.
 
To be honest I am spraytanning since 08. And I never worn a mask neither my clients but when I have a bussy day I do feel my nose all filled up with tanning product, so I did purchase some nose filters today this due to the fact that I do suffer of some alleries aswell ...so I will be offering nose filters to my clients aswell just as I am curious how many of them will actualy consider using one. about covering eyes dont know whats the point when you can ask the client to shut their eyes anyway.
 
Nothing that you inhale is going to be good for you cancer causing or not! If you have good extraction etc then I can't see the problem! Just be sensible! Silly people scaremongering ;)
 
What kind of extractor can you use if you are mobile technician?
 
Before we all start fretting over yet another burnt toast gives you cancer scare lets put this into perspective for a moment

This is early days test results and generally speaking the inhalation of airborne DHA particles is more prolific in automated booths which are much more popular in the USA than here.

These booths offer a confined space,extremely fine airborne particles and no means of extraction of such particles.

If you are using a HVLP machine which gives of far less of a fine mist compared to these automated machines then the sheer volume of fine mist in the air is considerably reduced,add to this application a modular extract/filter and you are creating the safest possible environment for both you and your customer.

If in doubt offer your customer a mask and use one yourself.....use an air filter module...all these things you should be doing anyway.:wink2:

I think what is appropriate is that we respond to this article in a professional manner with the consumer...dont fob it of but be up front ....
So what will you say to them???

Well maybe this link will help you with some ideas http://www.salongeek.com/skin-geek/184169-dha-health-warning.html

HTH :hug:

Just what we needed, a voice of reason :hug:
 

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