Bikini weather is right around the corner and we all want to rock a deep dark tan - and to smell nice too. What better way to achieve those goals than to do a safe spray tan and wear antiperspirants or deodorant, right? Well maybe or maybe not.

Safety of spray tanning in question

It’s been well-documented the dangers of getting a tan the natural way – ultraviolet rays from the sun cause skin damage and cellular changes raising the risk of skin cancer when melanoma rates are already on the rise.

Topical sunless self-tanners have been a viable, safe alternative to getting a sun-kissed glow without harming your skin when they were first approved by the FDA in the 1970’s. The magic ingredient making your skin look darker is called dihydroxyacetone (DHA). It essentially causes your skin to darken when it combines with amino acids in your skin. When applied topically, DHA is only causing the skin to brown at the outermost cells of the epidermis.

Dermatologists agree that self-tanners applied topically by a lotion or gel are safe as there is no data showing DHA is harmful when applied by hand to the skin. However avoid applying self-tanners to mucus membranes or sensitive skin around the eyes, lips, or any cuts or abrasions.

The main concerns arise with spray tans. There are no long term studies looking into the effects of aerosolized DHA potentially getting into the eyes, around the nose or mouth or being inhaled into the lungs. The FDA has warned that self-tanners are only approved for external application to the human body meaning only topically onto skin.

Dermatologists agree spray tans are safer than lying unprotected in the sun. But that does not mean repetitive exposure of getting a spray tan is recommended either. If spray tans are done sparingly, covering the nose, mouth and eyes, the risk of toxicity is considered low. If they are done repetitively then that could raise risk of harm. Also do not be duped into thinking a spray tan protects you from skin damage as they do not. A sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30 should still be worn to protect skin when outdoors.

Pregnant women and children should not use sunless spray tans. It is simply not known of what potential harm they may pose to this group of individuals. Pregnant women need to be particularly careful during the first trimester which is the time period that would pose the greatest risk to the developing baby.

Clinical strength antiperspirants may threaten balance of good bacteria

Just when you thought it was safe to spray your underarms with an antiperspirant that may now be in question.

A very small study out of North Caroline Central University has shown using clinical strength antiperspirants appear to destroy good bacteria changing the microbial community living in our armpits. In doing so, this allows harmful bacteria to colonize growing back at a faster rate.

The bacteria shown to be elevated at higher levels was staphylococcaceae which was consistent with users who suddenly stopped using antiperspirants than people who consistently used them or did not use them at all.

The reason for this bacterial change seems to be due to the fact that antiperspirants do a very good job of killing microbes – apparently a little too good. That is what they are meant to do but when a user of clinical strength antiperspirants suddenly quits using them, it was discovered they were at risk of harmful bacteria infesting the user’s armpits.

One of the main ingredients in antiperspirants is aluminum-based compounds. These effectively plug-up sweat ducts to temporarily stop the flow of moisture to the skin. Over-the-counter clinical strength antiperspirants contain higher concentrations of aluminum. Concerns over aluminum being in antiperspirants have been raised but there is no scientific evidence to suggest it raises a health risk.

The best takeaway message here is to understand spraying our armpits with clinical strength antiperspirants or deodorants may possibly alter armpit bacteria, essentially changing the microbial ecosystem of how much and what lives on our skin.

In the past, there were no antiperspirants or deodorants to use and we relied on plain soap and water to get us by. Maybe the best solution to continue smelling fresh without bad body odor is to switch to a more natural antiperspirant.