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Artificial tanning leads to infertility
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025

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It has recently become known that women who use fake tan to create a tanned body have fertility problems later on. Because this product contains chemicals that can affect a woman's ability to get pregnant. Women who use fake tan have an increased risk of infertility and having children with birth defects.
Although fake tanning was once considered a safe alternative to tanning, the cosmetic product may contain a “cocktail” of chemicals that can cause cancer. Fake tanning often contains carcinogens, including formaldehyde and nitrosamines, as well as chemicals that irritate the skin and lead to allergies, diabetes, obesity, and fertility problems. This is especially true for women who use fake tanning regularly.
The active ingredient in this product is dihydroxyacetone, which reacts with amino acids in the skin to create the appearance of a tanned body. When fake tan is sprayed on the body, it is absorbed into the bloodstream. Scientists say this can damage DNA and cause cancer cells to form. They also claim that the ingredients in fake tan can lead to asthma and other lung diseases, such as emphysema.