Summer Buzzkill: “Responsible” Spray Tanning May Not Be Safe Either

Just when we thought we were being responsible by booking a spray tan rather than relying on the sun (or even worse, a tanning bed) for our summer glow, new research has come to light to reinforce the sad fact that there really may be no safe way to tan.

According to a new study by Dr. Rey Panettieri, a toxicologist and lung specialist at the University of Pennsylvania, spray tanning mists release compounds of DHA (the skin-tone-changing chemical that gives you your faux glow) which, once absorbed into the lungs, can “promote the development of cancers or malignancies." We're sorry, what now? This just confirms our suspicions that literally everything will give you cancer.

So, what’s a girl to do? Wear a mask? Switch to a non-spray version of self-tanner (we did just round up some of our favorite foolproof fake tans)? Or you could, you know, just embrace the pale. We're thinking the world probably won't end if your thighs aren't bronzed. (Allure)