Latest tan comes in a spray

VALERIE HILL

(Feb 11, 2003)

With consumer's never-ending search for that sun-kissed look, manufacturers have tried everything from self-tanning lotions to ultraviolet tanning beds. The latest wrinkle combines both.

"It's a glorified spray booth," said Mary Warnock, owner of Beneficial Tanning Centre in Kitchener, where customers are being introduced to Mystic Tan.

Sun Magic also offers Mystic Tan at its Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge locations.

In describing the use of the $55,000 unit, Warnock said a customer disrobes in a small booth and stands on a steel plate. The plate creates a negative magnetic charge, allowing the bronzing chemicals, which have a positive magnetic charge, to adhere to the skin.

A push of the button starts the process, in which a series of nozzles, initially pointed toward the feet, begin spraying up the person's body, releasing "mystic tanning solution." The solution is made up of a chemical bronzer, DHA (dihydroxyacetone, which extends the life of the "tan") and aloe vera.

The nozzles spray for 14 seconds, after which a buzzer sounds and the user has 10 seconds to turn and face the opposite direction. The system then repeats the spraying process, this time for 12 seconds. Variations allow the spray to last up to 18 seconds on the front, 14 seconds on the back.

A barrier cream applied to the feet and palms of the hands prevents discolouration of those areas. A shower cap protects the hair.

Leaving the booth, the user will feel slightly sticky and towels off any remaining solution before dressing, Warnock said. While there are some immediate results, the skin darkens further within 24 hours. The user is discouraged from showering or swimming for four hours so the solution can set.

The tan should last four to five days -- about the same as a tan acquired on an ultraviolet tanning bed.

There are some cautions. "It's not recommended for people with psoriasis or eczema," Warnock said. "It will catch in the dry areas of the skin."

During the spraying process, the user is advised to hold his or her breath, although the manufacturer claims the bronzer and DHA have been used in the cosmetics industry for decades and are not harmful.

Waterloo dermatologist Terry Polevoy, who opposes artificial tanning, disagrees. "I'm not sure I'd want my body painted," he said, questioning the safety of DHA. "I wouldn't want to use acetone on my body. . . . It's like putting on hair dye. They make a lot of claims in these devices."

Health Canada spokeswoman Margot Geduld said there have been no reports of problems. "The one concern is in inhalation . . . though we're not aware of inhalation reports either."

Mystic Tan charges $29.95 per session, compared to $10 for a 20-minute ultraviolet tan. Sun Magic also offers Mystic Tan in their Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge locations, charging $50 for two sessions.

vhill@therecord.com