What's The Deal With Self Tanners & Spray Tans? Are They Bad For You?

Jul 10

It’s summer. It’s a highly coveted time of year when you are able to enjoy a picnic with friends, ride a ferris wheel with a loved one, and run through sprinklers with your siblings. What makes these summertime activities so much more enjoyable is that you don’t have to worry about bundling up in your coat and scarf before stepping outside. You can simply throw on shorts and a t-shirt and run out the door.
Something else many look forward to in summer is of course, showing off their newly sunkissed skin. The only issue is that in order to achieve a golden or bronzed look, you must tan yourself to the sun. More specifically, you must expose your skin to ultraviolet radiation from the sun’s rays. So even though you may be glowing on the outside, I promise there is no glow happening under the skin after it has endured sun damage.

Getting a tan (even a “base” tan) is the skin’s natural response to sun damage. The sun’s rays penetrate the skin and damage our cells and DNA. To prevent further damage, the skin responds by activating melanocytes which produce melanin, therefore producing pigment on the skin.

Are there alternatives to getting a tan from the sun?

Yes. You can give yourself a tan with self tanners and spray tans. These are temporary tans that usually last for about a week. They expose your skin to little damage in comparison to the sun.

What is a self tanner?

The active ingredient in self tanners and spray tans is a colorless agent called DHA (dihydroxyacetone). How it works is that carbon sugars in the product react with amino acids in the skin, resulting in the skin tanning. It targets dead skin cells on the top layer of skin, unlike actual UV rays which penetrate much deeper into the skin and cause damage. The reaction that occurs on the skin with self tanner is the same reaction that occurs when bread is toasted.

Does self tanner damage the skin?

Yes, but significantly less than sun exposure or tanning beds.

How does self tanner damage the skin?

Free radical damage is accumulated due to the nature of the tanning process. Free radical damage is oxidative stress that leads to damage of the cells, DNA, enzymes, etc.
More than 180% additional free radicals are generated during sun exposure after applying self tanner compared to untreated skin.
About 11% of the product absorbs into the skin, causing cellular damage.
Vitamin D production decreases after using self tanner.

Additional information:

Inhalation of DHA in large doses can lead to lung toxicity and other side effects are not yet know. When receiving a spray tan, close your eyes and don’t inhale any of the product.
There are DHA-free self tanners on the market. These also produce free radical damage and are simply a marketing gimmick.

Conclusion:

If you want a tan, choose self tanners and use them in moderation. Using them causes so much less damage to your skin compared to tanning in the sun or a tanning bed.