Spray tan how does it work

Reviewed: November 15, Everyone should know by now that sun-bathing and using tanning beds can severely damage your skin later in life.

Possible consequences include wrinkles, sun spots, and dry, leathery skin. Along with these unfortunate-looking aftereffects, you also significantly increase your risk for developing skin cancer.

How does spray tanning work? Spray tans, like other sunless tanning products, contain a chemical called dihydroxyacetone, commonly known as DHA. DHA is absorbed into your top layer of skin cells and causes a chemical reaction that makes them darken. This coloration process is completely harmless and DHA has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for external use.

There are two types of spray tans you can choose from. You can buy spray tan bottles for self-application or you can go to a spray tan salon. In a spray tan salon, you strip down in a special booth and the tanning solution is applied to your body in a fine mist. This technique is performed by a specially-trained technician who uses a compressor and an airbrush to apply tanning spray evenly all over your body.

An airbrush tan typically lasts between 4 and 10 days. Is a spray tan salon better than a self-tanner? Better might not be the best word, but visiting a spray tanning salon is certainly easier than applying a self-tanner. When it comes to do-it-yourself tanning, it can be very difficult to apply your tanning product evenly all over your body, especially in those hard-to-reach areas.

Using spray tan salons can be helpful because you will have an experienced assistant to help you with the spray tan booth and make sure that your color is applied without leaving streaks, blotches or tan lines.

How Does Spray Tanning Work? Rub off skin or exfoliate with a shrub. Lotions, makeup, and perfume can create a barrier between the skin and the tanning solution. You should also be careful about the underwear that you choose to wear. Always wear protective eye gear to make sure you are safe during your session tanning booth glasses should work fine to keep the spray mist out of your eyes. You should also use nose filters to prevent unnecessary inhalation.

The main aspect of immediate care is avoidance of all water and humidity. Rinse in warm water until you have given your tan enough time. While the term "chemical reaction" might sound harmful, it's just the name given to the process of DHA interacting with the skin in other words, it's much less scary than it sounds. All spray tan products contain the same active ingredient, but that doesn't mean they all contain the same percentage of it.

Generally speaking, the higher the percentage of DHA, the quicker and darker the spray tan will develop, Shaw likens it to medication. Thanks to the chemicals therein, spray tans can be customized by the spray tan artist to accommodate your unique skin and desired result. The best way to find out what percentage of DHA works for you is to talk with your spray tan artist ahead of the actual application, says Shaw.

Aside from having a conversation with the spray tan artist, another way to decipher which DHA percentage is best for you is through good old trial-and-error. This is especially true if you're planning on getting a spray tan before a big event brides beware!

Two weeks is just enough time for a spray tan to develop and subsequently disappear due the skin's natural exfoliation process. Tanning companies add a cosmetic bronzer into the tanning solution. If a consumer doesn't know that DHA is the real tanning ingredient, they'll reach for bronze formulas over clear, since that implies greater efficacy.

But Shaw says that it's the cosmetic bronzer that rubs off on your clothes and sheets and leads to a greater potential for streakiness and splotchiness. Some cosmetic bronzers can stain the skin, so take note of how your skin reacts to a spray tan before booking your next appointment.

Spray tans are meant for everyone—no matter your skin tone or preconceived notions. A tan fits everyone," says Shaw. However, it's important to note that a tan certainly isn't necessary for confidence—it's just an option should you want to add a bit of warmth to your existing skin tone. The first thing you need to do before heading to your spray tan appointment is to exfoliate. This fresh skin is primed and ready to absorb the spray tan solution evenly and deeply.

Ditch the razors with the moisturizing strips right before a spray-tan. Those strips have the potential to create a barrier on your skin, which will not allow the self tanner to settle properly and therefore create streaks. As Bennett knows, showering can also be hazardous: "Nobody wants those pesky black dots on your legs. However, the FDA states that DHA shouldn't be inhaled or applied to areas covered by mucous membranes, including the lips, nose or areas around the eyes because the risks of doing so are unknown.

If you're using a sunless tanning product at home, follow the directions on the label and don't get the product in your eyes, nose or mouth. If you're going to a sunless tanning booth, ask how your eyes, mouth, nose and ears will be protected and how you will be protected from inhaling the tanning spray. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health.

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