Let’s face it: if you are from California or have lived here awhile and have embraced the culture, chances are you are tan or attempt to get a tan once a year.
Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer which is generally caused by occasional exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunshine and/or tanning beds. Melanoma kills an estimated 8,790 people in the U.S. annually, according to skincancer.org. Knowing this, how can we still go out there and fry on the beach or fake n’ bake in the beds?
Related: Jersey Shore gives up tanning beds:
skincancer.org/prevention/tanning/real-reason-snooki-gave-up-tanning
What is the alternative, you ask? Spray tanning or staying in the shade. Well, again we go back to our lovely California culture (and be honest, Southern California more so than Northern – which is a whole other state if you ask me but that is a debate for another day and another blog!). Staying in the shade
is really your best bet added with a healthy dose of sunscreen. My oldest daughter is a firm believer in this method no matter that the rest of the women in her family are ALL sun worshippers from way back!
Spray Tanning is another method but you should know that some people believe this could also be bad for your skin. There have been recent studies that show the active ingredient in Spray Tanning solution Dihydroxyacetone, or DHA is
harmful. Nearly every product used for spray tanning contains DHA, which is a carbohydrate that can be derived from glycerin or plant sources such as sugar cane or beets. DHA reacts with the amino acids in the surface layer of the skin which develops into color and BAM you have a tan. It is generally safe for external use. It is only when you inhale large amounts of DHA that you become at risk. The solution, ask your spay technician for some nose plugs and you are on your way.
What are we to do?
Educate ourselves. If you are like me, you still want to be tan. I choose the lessor (and frankly I am not convinced it is really that bad) of 3 evils.
I choose a custom airbrush tan. I believe in it so much, I convinced my friend, who is a licensed esthetician, to open a mobile custom airbrush tanning business.
And on that day Tanspiracy, the best little Mobile Custom Airbrush Tanning
Business, was born!
