With being tan becoming more and more of a craze these past couple of years, going to a tanning salon has become very routine for women and men as well. Scientists had provided the general public with warnings on the harmful effects of spray tanning many times before, including the possibility of developing cancer. The main ingredient in spray tan is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). When inhaled and absorbed into the blood stream, it can damage our genetic code (DNA) and can potentially lead to the formation of tumors.

Women who had turned to spray tans as an alternative to tanning on a sunbed, which emitted harmful radiation, were shocked by this.

According to Female First:

Scientists claim that the chemical may make asthma worse, as well as other lung problems such as emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

The most alarming research on this key ingredient, dihydroxyacetone (DHA), is that it not only can damage DNA, but can mutate—change the DNA in living cells and the impact of this is still unknown. There is potential that it might cause lung cancer. So although you are dodging a bullet with switching from sunbeds, which can cause skin cancer, to spray tanning, now there is a huge possibility that you are in line for being hit by another bullet. I’m honestly still at loss of words as to why anyone would want to look like an Oompa Loompa, but that’s just me I guess. I think the best way to get a little sun is to slather on a healthy coat of sunscreen and enjoy an outdoor activity. And don’t forget sunglasses to protect your eyes and to reapply sunscreen often and especially to places that burn easily, like shoulders, nose, chin, forehead and lips!

Photo courtesy of: Female First