From locals to celebrities, people across the country are opting to stay out of the sun.
Annika Turner told FOX23, "A
ny UV rays are not good for your skin and it causes major aging and wrinkles and all that bad stuff."
Many people, like Annika, choose to get their bronze using sunless tanner. But, do you know what is in the mist?
Dihydroxyaceton or DHA, is the chemical used in sunless tanner that causes the external part of your skin to turn bronze; that chemical has sounded the alarm for some medical experts.
Recent studies obtained by ABC News said medical professional are concerned the chemical could be a health hazard with the potential to cause DNA damage.
"That is scary," Annika said, "That is what people use if they want to take care of their skin to get tan."
Tanning salon owners are upset by the new concerns as well. "It's very frustrating," said owner of Midnight Sun Tanning Salon & Spa, Brooke Bills.
Brooke said this week the skin company Norvell has reminded stores to post safety reminder signs. "Every warning that they have issued as of last night, as an update on the situation is nothing different that what we have provided for the past five years," said Brooke.
Brooke said she has been reminding customers for years wear protective eye goggles, a nose filter and undergarments when they go inside the sunless tanning chamber. The salon provides the protective gear free of charge.
"They put it on to block anything that's not external," said Brooke.
To be clear, the FDA has approved DHA for external application but the website states:
"The use of DHA in 'tanning' booths as an all-over spray has not been approved by the FDA, since safety data to support this use has not been submitted to the Agency for review and evaluation."
The FDA advises asking the following questions when considering commercial facilities where DHA is applied by spraying or misting:
- Are consumers protected from exposure in the entire area of the eyes, in addition to the eyes themselves?
- Are consumers protected from exposure on the lips and all parts of the body covered by mucous membrane?
- Are consumers protected from internal exposure caused by inhaling or ingesting the product?
If the answer to any of these questions is "no," the consumer is not protected from the unapproved use of this color additive."
DHA is also an ingredient in many over the counter sunless tanners.
Medical experts said more studies need to be conducted on the topic. Salon owners said sunless tanning is still a healthy alternative.
"Ultimately, when people walk out of here they have zero chance of burning and it's a much healthier glow with no sun exposure," said Brooke.
