How to Use Self-Tanners Safely

A healthy bronze glow is the sign of a great summer. But skin cancer is a serious side effect to soaking up the sun. Thankfully, any number of sunless tanning products can give you that sun-kissed look. Yet, while these lotions, creams and sprays are safer than sunbathing, they aren’t 100% risk free.

How Self-Tanning Products Work

Self-tanning, or sunless tanning, products give your skin a bronzed look without harmful ultraviolet rays. Most self-tanners have the chemical color additive dihydroxyacetone, or DHA. By mingling with the dead cells on your skin’s surface, DHA darkens your skin and gives you a temporary tan.

DHA Is Safe … Mostly

The Food and Drug Administration approved DHA for use in cosmetics intended for external use only, meaning they shouldn’t be inhaled or used near your eyes, nose, mouth or any other area of the body that has mucous membranes. Sunless tanning products in lotion and cream forms are considered cosmetics. It’s easy to avoid inhaling them or applying them incorrectly.

Spray tanning is a little trickier. DHA is not FDA-approved for use in spray tanning because it’s difficult to avoid exposing your eyes and mucous membranes to the chemical. Your chances of inhaling the chemical increase in a spray tan booth. It’s not clear from current research if inhaling DHA during a spray tanning session increases your risk for asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or cancer.

Go With the (Sunless) Glow

With sunless tanning lotions, if you follow the directions and don’t apply it anywhere you have an open wound, you don’t need to worry about DHA entering your bloodstream. If you’re allergic to DHA or any other ingredients listed on the product label, be aware of a possible skin reaction. Of course, you can always love the skin you’re in and skip sunless tanning altogether. But don’t skimp on the sunscreen.