Every summer new sun scary studies come out and we all cringe when we read the new warnings and details, but every summer thousands upon thousands of Americans still flock to the beaches to bask in those stimulating sum-rays- and I'm just as guilty..
ABC News released new scientific studies on a potential harmful chemical found in spray-on tans. The chemical known as DHA ( dihydroxyacetone ) allegedly has the potential to cause genetic alterations and DNA damage. A panel of medical experts looked at the studies (which I have to point out were not done on any human subjects) and voiced their concerns about consumers inhaling or ingesting the DHA chemical that can get into their bloodstream.
Dr. Rey Panettieri, a toxicologist and lung specialist at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine told ABC News, "These compounds in some cells could actually promote the development of cancers or malignancies, and if that's the case then we need to be wary of them."
But before we send the tanning-mom and cast of Jersey Shore into a frenzy, it's worth noting that not all doctors agree with these studies.
Dr. Doris Day, a NY certified dermatologist that I happen to book interviews with quite frequently told me, " This is not a time to panic. These have already been used for 10-15 years, and we really don't see a lot of data saying that young people have been damaged by this; we don't see an increased rise in genetic abnormalities in babies. In other words, this is not new; it is done everyday."
She did add that if you want to be extra cautious you should not use spray-on tans on your face where it's easier to inhale the DHA chemical and of course if you are one of those people who can't resist the real thing (aka baking outside in the sun).. to use sun tanning lotion with a strong SPF (30+) and to reapply every 2 hours.
The full ABC News report can be read here: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/safety-popular-spray-tans-question-protected/story?id=16542918&singlePage=true#.T9crEbAS0uc
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