The statement comes after recent media reports claimed that some self-tanning products and their ingredients may cause a variety of problems.
Whilst CTPA acknowledges these reports and understands the cause for concern, director-general Dr Chris Flower urges people to seek out the facts and not believe every report.
"Since 2005 the number of people that have seen media reports about alleged harmful effects of cosmetics and toiletries has more than doubled, from 14 per cent in 2005 to 34 per cent today," he said.
Legal requirements
Furthermore, CTPA outlines that, as a legal requirement, all cosmetic and personal care products must be safe, as part of the stringent EU laws surrounding the manufacture of cosmetic products.
Before any product reaches the shelf it must have undergone a rigorous safety assessment by a professionally qualified safety assessor before placing a cosmetic product on the market.
Speaking of this procedure, Flower continues “The assessment looks to ensure you would still be safe even if you used the product 100 times more frequently than normal. This 100-fold safety margin is actually much greater than for drinking water!”
Key ingredient
The key ingredient in most self-tanning products is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). This has been recently reviewed by the European Commission’s independent expert scientific committee (the SCCS), which advises the Commission on scientific matters and the safety of cosmetic ingredients.
The SCCS has looked at data to support the use of DHA both in cosmetic formulations and also its use in spray cabins and confirmed the safe use of DHA in cosmetic products.
CTPA urges consumers to continue to use their cosmetic products and be confident that they are safe to use.