Is A Suntan Worth Dying For? The Advantages Of Spray Tans Vs. Sun Beds

 

Tanning salons make a lot of money promoting the benefits of having a nice, healthy glow. Of course we all want to enjoy the sun-kissed look, but for some, that lovely golden tan they spend years cultivating ends up costing them dearly. Skin cancer caused by excessive amounts of time spent on tanning beds is on the rise, mostly as a result of our obsession with looking tanned and healthy. But there is an alternative: spray tans.

 

What is a Spray Tan?

 

A spray tan is a type of artificial tan. The patient is sprayed all over with a fine mist containing Dihydroxyacetone (DHA). This reacts with the skin and turns it a golden brown colour. Spray tans are not permanent and the effects generally only last for up to a week, but they are a lot safer than spending time on a tanning bed exposed to harmful UVA rays.

 

Pre-tan Preparation

 

For best results it is important to prepare the skin before having a spray tan treatment. If you need to wax or shave any areas, do this a few days prior to your treatment to make sure your pores have closed up and are not inflamed. It is a good idea to exfoliate the skin well the day before to remove all of the dead skin cells.

 

On The Day

 

Do not moisturise the skin before you have your treatment as the chemicals will not bind to the skin effectively and you tan won’t be as even. You should also avoid using deodorant and take off all makeup before you have a spray tan.

 

Why Choose a Spray Tan?

• Spray tans can give you the same healthy glow as a sun bed suntan without the risk factor
• You won’t have to put up with streaky bits
• Having a spray tan is less time consuming than applying fake tan lotion
• Spray tans minimise the appearance of minor skin imperfections such as stretch marks
• Spray tanning is very easy

What Are the Disadvantages of a Spray Tan?

• Spray tans don’t last for very long, so if you want to maintain a nice golden glow you will need to go back at least once per week for another treatment
• A spray tan is quite expensive when compared to tanning lotions or a session on a tanning bed
• Different people react in different ways to the chemicals in a spray tan, so you might need to experiment a bit before you end up with a perfect shade of golden brown

Choose the Right Shade of Brown

 

The most important thing to remember when considering any kind of fake tan treatment is not to go overboard. There is nothing worse than leaving the tanning shop looking like a roasted strip of cow hide. A light golden tan is lovely and will give you a healthy glow, but most people don’t look good when they are a dark shade of mahogany.

Spray tans are 100% safer than having a tanning bed session or baking in the sun. Tanning salons offer spray tans, or you could opt to have a spray tan at home if you prefer.

The author of this post, Nancy Baker, is a freelance blogger who is a part of the team at Venus Victorian Spa, a leading spa in Etobicoke. Nancy is an oenophile and she is a member of a local wine tasting club. You can also follow her on Twitter @Nancy Baker.

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