My presentation topic was on how UV radiation in tanning booth such as UVA and UVA could potentially cause skin cancer. I remember that Jason was also interested to know if the spray tanning is also harmful. I did a little bit of research and I found out that tanning spray is also harmful to the skin. The sunless tanning lotion contains a keto sugar called dihydroxyacetone (DHA) that causes the skin to turn a brown color through a reaction known as the Maillard reaction. The Maillard reaction is a non-enzymatic glycation in which the carbonyl group of the sugar (DHA) forms a bond to the amino group of the proteins to produce advanced glycation end products called AGE. DHA targets not only proteins but also nucleic acids or other low molecular weight amines. DHA and AGE cause DNA damage, prevent cell proliferation as well as induce cell to undergo apoptosis. The damage that DHA causes to the internal organs is not very well known since many experiments concentrated on the potential damage DHA may cause to the external organ – the skin. Because of this lack of knowledge, currently there is not any state regulation for spray tanning salons.
The FDA approved DHA to be used as a color addictive for drugs and cosmetics since 1973. Every since then, the FDA warns that DHA could be hazardous if inhaled or swallowed. The administration also recommends that people cover their eyes, plug their noses, and protect their lips when using spray tans. The best lesson that I have learned from my presentation and this short research about DHA is that going natural is really the best! Since summer is approaching and being out in the sun is always unavoidable I would like to remind you all to please use sunscreen of SPF 30 at the very least.
Here’s a link to the article.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15157655&dopt=Citation
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I was watching MTV the other day and saw a competition in which little girls dress up and compete in pageants. It was very awkward watching girls that were 7 years old doing so much in order to win a pageant. It was similar to the pageant in 'Little Miss Sunshine'. The girls would be spray tanned by their mothers right before they went on stage. It was pretty disturbing watching mothers putting their little girls through all this for a little crown.
I saw "Little Miss Sunshine" too and I must say I was also disturbed. There are so many people out there that are not very well aware of the dangers of spray tanning. If you are old enough to understand the risks and still use spray tanning that's fine. But here you have parents that are spray tanning their kids disregarding any future health risks. Speaking of the dangers of UV radiation, I experienced first hand yesterday the bad consequences of not wearing sunscreen. There was a BBQ outside of the clairmont campus yesterday and I had forgot to put on any sunscreen. I was outside for only 10 or 15 minutes or so and now my arms which were exposed to the sun are really wrinkly and the skin is beginning to peel. So everyone please wear sunscreen!
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