A message from Christi Chang, founder of Healthy Tans, the Altanative

By Nicole June 12th, 2012 News No Comments

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This morning (June 12, 2012) ABC’s Good Morning America ran a piece about the possible health risks associated with spray tanning. Specifically, the piece pointed out that six medical experts have “concerns” over the potential health risks of ingesting or inhaling DHA, a coloring agent used in all spray tan solutions. GMA followed up with the FDA who said that while it approved the use of DHA over 30 years ago for direct application to the skin in tanning lotions, it’s never addressed potential health effects of ingesting or inhaling DHA and recommends that consumers take steps to avoid inhaling or ingesting DHA when being spray tanned.

If you haven’t seen the piece, please go on-line and view it yourself or read the companion article. We did; and we think it’s important that you are as informed as you can be.

As you know, I am a skin cancer survivor who didn’t want to give up being tan. Healthy Tans was born out of my desire to find a safe, healthy alternative to sun tanning or tanning booths, where the harmful effects of exposure to sunlight or UV radiation are well known and well documented.

While it seems that the U.S. FDA is just beginning to study the effects of DHA in spray tanning, there have been many studies done in Europe. We here at Healthy Tans have kept up with the research that is out there. In a December 2010 report on DHA, the Scientific Community on Consumer Safety of the European Commission concluded that spray tanning did not pose a risk to the health of a consumer.

Remember, the GMA piece did not imply any danger from using DHA on the skin but only voiced some concern over the possibility of side effects from inhaling or ingesting the mist. Even though there are no known health effects from the use of DHA in spray tanning, Healthy Tans has always taken a common sense approach to spray tanning safety. We tan ourselves in our booths and, like you, want to tan safely. We have always been diligent in reducing exposure of inhaling or ingesting the spray tan mist in the air even though no studies had been done. Although this may all be new to you, we at Healthy Tans have always kept on top of developments and been diligent in protecting your health from any unknown spray tan factors.

Healthy Tans uses hand-held spraying devices, not a spray booth where the spray is indiscriminately directed at the customer. With this targeted spraying, the mist has always been minimized.

All Healthy Tans spray tanning booths are individually ventilated. The mist is drawn down at the bottom, being pulled away from the customer’s face. In fact, Healthy Tans has just redesigned its spray tanning booths to provide even better ventilation. We believe we have the best ventilation in the industry. These new booths are already in operation in our Cherry Hill location and will soon be installed in our Deptford location, and will be installed at all future locations.

Healthy Tans has always taken steps to cover and protect all mucus membranes. We provide caps and make sure our customers’ ears are tucked up inside the caps. We use Vaseline to coat our customers’ lips and any open cuts.

In order to further reduce any possible risks, effective immediately, we will make available make-up remover and cotton applicators available so you can wash the tanning solution off of your eye lashes when you are done.

In conclusion, we have always been on the right path. We will continue on that path, providing you with the safest, healthiest alternative to sun and UV tanning.

Christi