Spray sunless tanning booths quickly are becoming a fast and easy way to get a tan.
But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently has said a color additive found in sunless tanning sprays has not been permitted for use on the lips, eyes or any body part covered by mucous membranes. The FDA says the coloring additive, dihydroxyacetone or DHA, is unsafe.
Rachel Rotolo, College of Education clerk chief, has used the spray tanning booths twice and said she received positive results from the booth.
“The spray tan worked really well for me,” Rotolo said. “I got darker without it looking fake and it lasted for about 10 days.”
Kim Tarver, owner of Salon Tropics on Jones Creek Road, said she has had a booth made by Mystic Tan, manufacturer for spray on tanning booths, for about three years and was one of the first salons in the area to offer the service.
Tarver said before customers use the spray tanning booth, they must watch a three-minute instructional video from Mystic Tan showing what people should do in the booth.
“The video does tell you to close your eyes and hold your breath so that you don’t inhale the spray. It didn’t say anything about covering your mouth or lips,” Rotolo said.
Rotolo said it does not bother her that she was not told to cover her mouth at the Salon Tropic on Perkins Road.
Rasheed, who wanted to keep his last name out of the story, is the owner of a tanning salon featuring Mystic Tan in Mandeville. He said he does not believe DHA is a harmful chemical.
“If I would have believed it was harmful in any way I would not have spent $35,000 on it,” Rasheed said.
Rasheed said Mystic Tan is a safe alternative to regular tanning beds that use UV rays.
Rasheed said Mystic Tan allows salons to target a clientele that is more health conscious because it does not use UV rays.
Stacy Below, FDA public affairs specialist, said DHA is restricted only to external use and if the substance makes contact with the eye or is inhaled through the mouth it can be harmful to consumers.
“When using DHA-containing products as an all-over spray or mist in a commercial spray tanning booth, it may be difficult to avoid exposure in a manner for which DHA is not approved, including the area of the eyes, lips, or mucous membrane, or even internally,” according to a FDA press release.
Rotolo said the process takes only a minute to spray the entire body with sunless tanning lotion.
Customers stand up in a 7-foot by 4-foot booth and are instructed to hold their breath, Rotolo said.
“There is about a 10-second delay between pushing the button and when it actually starts,” Rotolo said.
Rotolo said the booth sprays the front of the body for 12 seconds then stops for 5 seconds, allowing time to turn around. The booth then starts to spray again for another 12 seconds on the back of the body.