It has long been discussed by the World Health Organization, American Academy of Dermatologist and the National Cancer Institute that the sun and artificial tanning booths can greatly increase the chance of skin cancer. I’m sure most of us have heard this by now. But, we all want a nice summer glow. So, what do we do about it? Get an airbrush tan.

Airbrush tans are rapidly increasing in popularity amongst Hollywood celebrities. But, what exactly is an airbrush tan and what should you look for in a company that provides them? According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the most effective sunless tanning products contain dixydroxyacetone (DHA) as the active ingredient. DHA is a colorless chemical (it is derived from glycerin) that interacts with the amino acids in dead skin cells to produce a brown color change. Since these dead skin cells are constantly being shed, the color change produced by DHA usually lasts about five to seven days. DHA is not absorbed through the skin into the body and it has no known toxicity. DHA was first discovered by the Germans in the late 1920's when DHA spilled on the skin produced a brown color. DHA has been listed with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 1973, and has been used in cosmetic preparations for almost 30 years.

Sounds good right? Yes, but there are some things you need to research before choosing an airbrush tanning company. First, the most important thing you should look for is the concern of the company for the safety of the client. Although DHA has been approved for use externally on the skin, the FDA has issued a warning. According to the Code of Federal Regulations, "externally applied" cosmetics are those "applied only to external parts of the body and not to the lips or any body surface covered by mucous membrane. The company should specifically provide products to protect clients from DHA exposure to the eyes, lips and mucous membranes as well as preventing the inhalation or ingestion of products containing DHA. Next, the DHA solution used will determine the beauty of the tan. There are hundreds of products and if the company uses the cheap products, you may look orange or the tan will fade unevenly. Last, the airbrush tan company should be very friendly and make you feel comfortable. You will be standing less than fully clothed in front of your technician for around 10-15 minutes. The least they can do is make you feel relaxed.

Airbrush tanning is a quick, convenient, safe way to get a beautiful tan. Make sure the company you choose is concerned about your safety, they use the best tan solutions and they are friendly and make you feel comfortable.