Some months back, hysteria erupted when mainstream media reported that spraytans cause cancer (that doesn't sound definitive or simplistic at all, does it??).
They made this 'qualified' jump in conclusion when information recently came to light that 30 years ago, the Food and Drug Administration (A U.S. government body) had approved DHA (di hydroxyacetone - the ingredient in tanning products that makes your skin brown (or orange, depending on your spraytan purveyor of choice...)) for topical use in lotions only.
The reports carried on to say that since the invent of liquid tanning solutions, clinical tests had been done on inhaling DHA from off-spray of the solutions and the results returned with a somewhat dubious outcome.
Statements from clinical findings claiming, 'DHA may show to cause some cell mutation', were quickly mutated themselves by media into 'spraytans cause cancer'. Hence, the FDA's current stance on having only approved the chemical in a form that cannot be inhaled or ingested in anyway.
Enter the CTPA (The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association - a European standards group). They've come out in defence of tanning solutions and the whole spraytanning industry in announcing that DHA in a liquid and mist form has, indeed, been approved, causes no plausible health risks - and then goes on to shoot giant holes in the whole FDA-quoting cancer-scare reporting bonanza (take that, 'The Sun' newspaper...) making some really, really sensible and factual (how novel!) points, leading all tanning professionals to breathe a big (DHA-filled - just kidding...) sigh of relief.
The Examiner has the whole story and it's pretty great.
Check it out for yourself if you get regular (or sporadic) spray tans.
