Latest news with #MelanotanII
New York Post
16-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Viral ‘Barbie drug' that can help you tan can cause brain swelling, erection problems and even cancer, experts warn
Talk about a toxic tan. Nicknamed the 'Barbie drug,' a viral nose spray that promises to give users the perfect glow may deliver life-threatening complications. The drug, Melanotan-II, is an unlicensed and largely untested synthetic version of the peptide α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. As the name implies, the hormone is responsible for melanin production, and devotees of the 'Barbie drug' claim it can give users a perfect tan from the inside out. Advertisement But the promise of a bronze glow comes with a decided dark side as Melanotan-II has been linked to a slew of side effects ranging from nausea to cancer. 4 A study published last year found that TikTok has been driving unlicensed Melanotan-II sales. TikTok / @drwhitneybowe Sold in nasal spray form, the product is often marketed with Barbie-inspired designs, pink packaging, and stamped with a seemingly official 'Barbie' logo. Despite the dire complications, influencers have been hawking it to their followers as a quick and easy way to tan. Advertisement 'People always want to be tan, especially during the summer,' Dr. Jennifer Levine, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, told The Post. 'The Barbie movie has also added to the 'beach' trend.' Melanotan II is not approved by the FDA, meaning the product is not held to the agency's standards and could include variability in dose, undeclared ingredients, and potential microbial contamination. Warnings against the use of melanotan II have been issued by the US, UK, Australia, and several other countries. Advertisement However, those warnings have not stopped black market suppliers of Melanotan-II from producing and distributing the drug in injectable, tablet, cream, and nasal spray form. The possibility of peril has clearly failed to discourage social media influencers, as a study published last year found that social media has been driving unlicensed Melanotan-II sales. 4 Bottles are being marketed with pink packaging, pictures of Barbie dolls and a logo copied from the film. Advertisement In response, TikTok has banned the hashtags #tanningnasalspray, #melanotan and #melanotan2, but these products continue to be promoted with more generic hashtags, such as #tanning. Influencers rarely mention the side effects that accompany melanotan II. These include changes in the size and pigmentation of moles, rapid appearance of new moles, facial flushing, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and brain swelling. Unaware that the produce was unlicensed and unregulated, Edith Eagle purchased and used nasal tanners ahead of a planned vacation to the Canary Islands. On the second day of her holiday, she was rushed to the hospital with an allergic reaction she compared to 'suffocating inside' and 'drowning' within her own body. 4 Melanotan II is not approved by the FDA, meaning the product is not held to the agency's standards and could include variability in dose, undeclared ingredients, and potential microbial contamination. In light of her hellish experience, she told the BBC she hopes governments will adopt 'a zero tolerance approach' to melanotan II. Melanotan II can also cause rhabdomyolysis, also called 'rhabdo,' a condition characterized by the breakdown of muscle tissue, which releases a toxin into the bloodstream and can cause kidney failure. Advertisement In men, the 'Barbie drug' can cause priapism or an erection that lasts more than four hours and is not related to sexual activity and can cause damage to the penis. In effect, anti Ken-ergy. Ironically, while Melanotan II is often marketed as a tool for preventing skin cancer, its use has been linked to the development of melanoma in existing moles. Experts believe this is caused by stimulated pigment cells triggering the proliferation of abnormal cells. 4 Edith Eagle compared her allergic reaction to 'Barbie drug' to 'suffocating inside' and 'drowning' within her own body. Courtesy Edith Eagle Advertisement In addition, melanotan II usage is often accompanied by risky behavior such as tanning beds and/or unprotected sun exposure. Indeed, many TikTokkers say they snort the substances before heading to a solarium, as ingredients in the sprays allegedly help increase the effectiveness of tanning beds. The emergence of nasal spray tans comes as rates of melanoma have rapidly increased in recent years, according to the American Cancer Society. Advertisement Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, sending about 8,000 Americans to the grave each year At present, there are no studies on the long-term safety or efficacy of melanotan-II use. What's more, melanotan-II's promise of year-round golden skin is a fallacy, as the achieved 'tan' is not permanent and disappears when product use is discontinued. Advertisement As we edge towards summer and the pressure to prevent paleness mounts, experts agree there are plenty of safe, and street legal ways to get your glow on, including self-tanners and body-makeup.
Irish Independent
16-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Public warned to avoid ‘dangerous' nasal tanning sprays going viral on TikTok
The sprays can cause nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure and even changes in mole shape and size, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) said. Nasal tanning sprays are designed to be sprayed into the nostrils and claim to work by administering a substance known as Melanotan 2, a chemical that darkens skin pigmentation. Unlike cosmetic products, nasal tanning sprays are unlikely to have had expert safety assessment, and use of relevant health warnings and instructions for safe use are rare Richard Knight, CTSI It is illegal to sell medicinal products containing Melanotan 2 in Ireland and the UK, but as the tanners are sold cosmetically they fall outside that remit. The HSE and the HPRA have previously issued warnings over use of the so- called 'barbie drug'. 'The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) reminds the public that the unregulated substance Melanotan 2 is not safe for use and may cause serious, long-term damage to your health. "Often described as a self-tanning aid, the product is also referred to as Melanotan, Melanotan II or MT2. It is commonly sold as an injectable powder or in the form of drops and nasal sprays. 'The HPRA is also concerned that products containing Melanotan 2 are increasingly being targeted towards young people by using bright colours, flavours, and branding. The HPRA will take action against individuals using social media and e-commerce to advertise and supply Melanotan 2 containing products, including the removal of content and accounts, and prosecution activity when there is significant risk to public health,' the HPRA said in a previous statement on the risks of the chemical. While the long-term health impacts of using the sprays were not yet known, studies had shown a potential link to melanoma, a type of skin cancer, the CTSI warned. Inhaling sprays can irritate the respiratory tract, with potential symptoms such as coughing, sneezing and nasal congestion, and repeated exposure can lead to chronic respiratory issues. The CTSI also flagged an emerging trend for flavoured nasal tanning sprays, drops and gummies, with 'unscrupulous' sellers on Facebook and TikTok posting pictures of the products available in child-friendly flavours such as peach, bubblegum, grape, strawberry and lime. The CTSI said it feared they could become the latest 'must have' products 'leading to a youth epidemic as we saw with disposable vapes'. Nasal tanning sprays are growing in popularity thanks to their promotion by influencers and the products being widely available online. One woman, Edith Eagle, told the CTSI that she was in hospital 'unable to breathe' after suffering a severe reaction to an unlicensed nasal tanning spray she bought online. When explaining her symptoms, Ms Eagle said: 'I can't even explain it, but I was suffocating inside. It was as if I was drowning within my own body.' The CTSI has urged the public to avoid any type of tanning products that are ingested or inhaled and instead use safer options such as creams and sprays bought from reputable retailers. Richard Knight, CTSI lead officer for cosmetics and beauty, said: 'Edith's story is a sobering one, and an example of what can happen when putting unregulated products into our bodies. 'Unlike cosmetic products, nasal tanning sprays are unlikely to have had expert safety assessment, and use of relevant health warnings and instructions for safe use are rare. 'This means that no-one, including influencers, can truly know the risks of using these quasi-medical potions.' Susanna Daniels, chief executive of Melanoma Focus, said: 'We're becoming increasingly concerned about the use of both nasal tanning sprays and tanning injections and their potential links with melanoma skin cancer. 'These unregulated and illegal products not only pose serious health risks but also encourage harmful behaviours, particularly among young consumers. 'We urge the public to consider the long-term impacts on their health and avoid using these substances altogether.' Sunbed Association chairman Gary Lipman said: 'Nasal sprays have absolutely no place in a professional tanning salon. 'We fully support CTSI's campaign to heighten awareness of the dangers of using them. The end goal must be to eradicate access to these illegal and unregulated products.'
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Nasal tanning sprays warning issued by Trading Standards
Trading Standards has issued a warning about nasal tanning sprays and the potential health problems they could cause people who have used comes after a BBC North West investigation spoke to a woman who said she was left "unable to breathe" after suffering a reaction to an unlicensed spray she bought enforcement agency said the products could "cause nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, and even changes in mole shape and size".The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) also believe that flavoured varieties of the sprays, which are being promoted and sold on social media platforms, could be targeting children. Richard Knight lead officer for Cosmetics and Beauty at the CTSI said: "Unlike cosmetic products, nasal tanning sprays are unlikely to have had expert safety assessments and use of relevant health warnings and instructions for safe use are rare." The body is now urging the public to avoid any tanning products that are inhaled or ingested, to use tanning creams and sprays bought from reputable retailers and report any unsafe products to Trading this year reporters from the BBC managed to easily purchase sprays from beauty salons and tanning shops in Manchester and on Merseyside and a gym in Newcastle. What are Nasal Tanners? Nasal tanners are designed to be sprayed into the nostrils and are claimed to work by delivering a substance known as Melanotan II, a chemical that darkens skin is illegal to sell medicinal products containing Melanotan II in the UK, but as the tanners are sold cosmetically, they fall outside that they are not covered by UK cosmetics regulations, meaning they are not subjected to the same scrutiny as other over-the-counter beauty products. Edith Eagle, from King's Lynn in Norfolk, bought tanners online believing they would give her an enhanced tan ahead of a planned holiday to Fuerteventura in April told the BBC she did not realise the product was unlicensed and the second day of her holiday, she was rushed to hospital after her apparent allergic reaction said she felt like she was "suffocating inside" and "drowning" within her own said she was glad a warning had been issued and wanted to see "a zero tolerance approach to them".Edith said her 16-year-old daughter was "a complete tan addict" and had also used the nasal tanning spray after seeing them advertised online but would "never touch them now" after seeing what happened to her. "Health is so much more important than being so tanned for some Instagram pics," she said. Mr Knight said the nasal tanners were a "wild west-type product" and they were a "ticking time bomb" and something people could regret putting into their body at a later date."The people selling them literally have no clue what's in them, often they don't have a proper ingredients list" he said enforcing a ban on the products would be difficult because they were not classed as cosmetic products so the producer does not have to prove to trading standards that they are safe."It needs to become a national issue. We need to gather more evidence as a profession and to do that we need more intelligence, we need more complaints," he urged consumers in England and Wales to report any suspicious cosmetic products or if they had experienced any adverse reactions after using a product to Trading Standards Health impact Long term health impacts are not yet known, but cancer charities are concerned using the sprays could cause skin cancer like Daniels, from cancer charity Melanoma Focus, said she was " becoming increasingly concerned about the use of both nasal tanning sprays and tanning injections and their potential links with melanoma skin cancer".She added: "These unregulated and illegal products not only pose serious health risks but also encourage harmful behaviours, particularly among young BBC bought 10 sprays from online and the high-street including beauty salons and sunbed stores, and the chemical Melanotan II was found in varying strengths in six of those Lipman, chairman of the Sunbed Association said: "Nasal tanning sprays have absolutely no place in a professional tanning salon." Read more stories from Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X.
BBC News
07-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
'Nasal tanners left me suffocating in hospital'
A woman has told how she was left in hospital "unable to breathe" after suffering a severe reaction to an unlicensed nasal tanning spray she bought Eagle said she felt like she was "suffocating" and "drowning inside her own body" after the allergic collapse she believes was linked to the tanners are designed to be sprayed into the nostrils and claim to work by administering a substance known as Melanotan II, a chemical that darkens skin is illegal to sell medicinal products containing Melanotan II in the UK but as the tanners are sold cosmetically they fall outside that remit. However, they are not covered by UK cosmetics regulations, meaning they are not subjected to the same scrutiny as other over-the-counter beauty have said they have not been fully researched and could contain toxic ingredients. Ms Eagle said she purchased tanners online believing they would give her a quick and easy bronzed look ahead of a planned holiday to Fuerteventura in April had been recommended to her by someone she knew, but she said she did not realise they were unlicensed and 47-year-old, from King's Lynn in Norfolk, inhaled the spray twice a day, believing it would give her tan "time to build up before we actually get into the sunshine".But on the second day of the trip she was rushed to hospital after the apparent allergic reaction spiralled."I literally could not breathe," she said."And all what went through my mind was, will I even get to the hospital because I could not breathe."I can't even explain it, but I was suffocating inside. It was as if I was drowning within my own body." Ms Eagle said she became suspicious after her stepdaughter, who also used a tanner, spotted a Facebook post from someone who said they had also suffered a bad told her hospital consultant, who asked where she had bought the tanner and what was in also became suspicious, she said."Of course, there was nothing on it apart from a pretty label on the front, no ingredients whatsoever. There was nothing, really, I could show him. And that was a frightening thing," she said."Once I was allowed to go back to the hotel the consultant said 'Just remember next time, you may not be so lucky'." 'Side effects' The products are promoted on social media and are readily available to buy online, while the BBC has also found beauty salons and tanning shops advertising them for BBC North West and North East Investigations team visited high street premises to see how easy they were to Manchester and Merseyside, a reporter managed to purchase several sprays from salons for between £20 and £25, sold with minimal instructions and no acknowledgment of any risks or dangers. In Newcastle, a staff member at a gym sold a reporter an "extreme strength spray" for £25, with verbal instructions to use it before taking a sun in Merseyside, the BBC was able to buy a "quadruple strength" spray on offer for £20, with the reporter advised to use it morning and at the University of Sunderland found Melanotan II present in varying strengths in six of the 10 samples the BBC had Childs, a senior lecturer in pharmaceutical chemistry, said: "There's a massive discrepancy in the amount of this drug in the products people are purchasing."The higher the dosage, the more risks that are involved and more side effects are likely to be involved." Cancer risk fears He said the samples that did not contain the active ingredient were not necessarily safer as they could include other chemicals that "could be toxic"."Any unlicensed product really comes with a whole host of dangers. There's no safety data. There are no long-term studies as to the impact on people's health," Mr Childs concern is that nasal tanners are often promoted for use in conjunction with sessions on sunbeds to maximise their effectiveness as part of a tanning routine. Cancer charities believe this could significantly increase the risk of developing skin cancer. Kerry Rafferty, who started charity Melanoma-Me after her own diagnosis, described the products as "skin cancer in a bottle"."It's absolutely terrifying, you've got these tanners that nobody really knows what's in them and then they [could be] accelerated by the sunbed use, which we know causes melanoma, so it is a big worry," she said."I think that this could be one of the reasons that there is an increase in melanoma at the moment." Data from North West Cancer Research showed people in the north-west of England were 13% more likely to develop skin cancer than those in the rest of the country. Chief executive Alastair Richards said the desire for "that tanned look" can often lead people to resort to the excessive use of sunbeds and products like nasal said the true effects of using such products might not be clear for years and could pose an increasing risk of cancer, including among younger people."Many of these products are aimed at young people, especially through social media," he said."The real danger is that while they might not experience harmful effects now, in the long run they'll be increasing their risk of skin cancer." As nasal tanners are not a medicinal product they do not have to be authorised, approved or registered by the MHRA before being government's Department for Business and Trade said: "Nasal tanning sprays are not covered by UK cosmetic regulations and must therefore comply with the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. "This means that anyone selling this product, including online, must ensure they are safe before placing them on the market."BBC News asked all the stores visited by reporters what steps they had taken to ensure their products met these regulation of them have reporting by Colette Howe and Jessica Ure
