The revolution that is sunless tanning has a lot to do with getting beautiful glowy skin, but that’s not where it stops! The sunless industry goes far deeper than the aesthetic appearance that’s created from a spray tan. The overall health benefits that are achieved through choosing sunless tanning over UV tanning is really what makes this revolution as far reaching as it’s become. It’s no wonder that sunless tanning is a billion dollar industry that continues to expand and grow each year. In the year 2023, people have become extremely aware of the products, ingredients and lifestyle activities that negatively affect the health of their skin and body. The next time you’re at the supermarket or a beauty supply store, pay attention to the amount of products you see that are advertised as being organic, cruelty free or vegan. The wellness lifestyle is taking over a large portion of our consumer goods and the sunless tanning industry fits right into that mold. This shift of society’s mind toward wellness also comes with the realization that sun exposure and UV tanning is damaging to the skin and, in some cases, can be life threatening. 

With the increased knowledge that society has toward skin health and the negative effects that UV tanning has on the skin, sunless tanning has grown into a massively successful industry. Not only does UV damage cause increased signs of aging, such as hyper pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, but it also increases the potential for skin cancer. You may tend to see moles on your body from time to time and think nothing of it. Most of the moles on our bodies are completely benign anyway, but that’s not always the case. It's important to get regular skin checks, especially if you’re someone who gets a lot of sun exposure without the use of SPF, to ensure you don’t have any cancerous lesions. Early diagnosis of skin cancer can be life saving!

Since the world is becoming more knowledgeable about the benefits of sunless tanning, as a beauty professional and spray tanning expert, it’s also crucial for you to be educated on skin and skin health. This comes down to being knowledgeable about the benefits of the products you choose to use on clients, the ingredients that are included in your solutions and even skin conditions that could be concerning to the client. With that being said, since we are not doctors, we cannot diagnose or recommend any form of treatment if we were to see a spot on the body that looks concerning during an appointment. However, as spray tan artists, being in the unique position to have an overview of our client’s skin gives us a sense of responsibility to also look out for the client’s best interest because they may not be as educated as us on skin health. 

One of the dangers that comes along with UV sun exposure is a form of skin cancer known as melanoma. According to Impact Melanoma, “Approximately one person dies of melanoma every hour in the U.S.” That’s quite the shocking statistic, right!? Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can start as a mole already present on the skin or it can start as a new spot. It’s imperative to get regular skin checks because melanoma can start out as the size of a pinhead. However, as time goes on, melanoma grows larger and deeper and can even metastasize throughout the body. Early detection is key once melanoma has started to form because, “melanoma that is diagnosed in its early stages has a high chance of being completely cured.” Once melanoma spreads to other areas of the body, it can become life threatening. 

If you’re in your 20’s or 30’s, you may think that you have plenty of time to worry about the dangers of sun exposure. Unfortunately, it’s a common misconception that melanoma and other forms of skin cancer are only something to worry about once we get older. There are plenty of individuals in their 20’s and 30’s who develop skin cancer, which is why it’s so important to know how to spot the signs. Impact Melanoma has put together an easy way to identify areas on the skin that could be cause for concern according to the ABCDE signs of melanoma as shown in the graphic below.

To become more educated on identifying different forms of skin cancer, recognizing warning signs and understanding the real risks that are involved with developing melanoma to better protect yourself and your clients, Impact Melanoma has a training for professionals called, The Skinny on the Skin. A portion of their training is also dedicated to how you can best communicate with your clients if you are ever to see something concerning on their skin so they can seek advice from a doctor. Being a sunless artist is about so much more than providing a beauty service that looks good on the outside. It’s about your duty to continue to educate your clients about the risks associated with UV tanning and sun exposure and why the benefits of spray tanning can be life changing and life saving. 

Knowledge is power when it comes to being a successful beauty professional. If you’re ready to explore all of the sunless product and solution options made for professionals who strive to create a sunless experience with skin health in mind, head over to the X-TAN Sunless website!

Xoxo,

Kelly