News Taffy

Now that warm weather is here, we’ve shed our long sleeves and pants to expose our pasty skin for all to see. Except some of us are hurrying to the nearest beauty salon for a tan before we go to all those June weddings and summer parties. What type of tan you get this summer matters a great deal to your long term well being so read on for the safest way to get some color.

Though we can’t give up our love of a summer glow, at least some people have gotten the message that laying in the sun for hours is very damaging to their skin. At the very least, the sun’s rays cause wrinkles and brown spots; at worst, skin cancers that can even lead to death. Tanning beds are just as bad and maybe even worse for exposing you to UVA rays which cause melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Skip the natural tan and use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 for every day use and 50 for sustained outdoor activities. An SPF of more than 50 really doesn’t block more of the harmful UVB rays than does an SPF of 30. Look for water resistant formulas if you are active or will be in the water and reapply every 2 hours or after you get out of the water. Wear a hat and sunglasses too.

A safer option is a spray tan or other self tanning product. To get a spray tan, a technician uses a mister to apply a coat of fake tan solution where desired. This fades in 5 to 7 days. There are also plenty of lotions, creams, tanning towels, tinted sunscreens and sprays you can apply at home yourself or you can use a bronzer which is a cosmetic product like a tinted moisturizer, foundation or powder that washes off with soap and water.

There has been some concern over the last several years as to whether self tanning products, specifically spray tans, are safe. Most spray tan solutions contain DHA or dihydroxyacetone, a colorless chemical that reacts with the thin layer of dead skin cells on the surface of your skin, turning them brown. After a few days, the color fades as the cells slough off. DHA is approved by the FDA for external application only, not to the lips or any body surface covered by mucous membrane. It is recommended to cover your eyes, nose and mouth during a spray tan application and that the salon employee applying the tan should also avoid inhaling the mist. You may want to wear goggles, use nose plugs and apply a thick layer of lip balm. DHA is not absorbed through the skin and is considered harmless when used as directed. If you get a spray tan, be sure to continue to use sunscreen when you are outdoors as a tan of any kind does not protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.

While you are getting that golden tan, please get a pedicure. Trust me, we’d rather see your pasty skin than your skanky feet.