Latest news with #melanotanII
The Sun
19-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
I have permanent skin damage from using tanning nasal spray twice – it made me dizzy & nauseous too, says former Miss GB
THEY promise to give you a glowing, bronze complexion, but the new trend of nasal tanning sprays is packed with risks. So much so, former Miss GB Jen Atkins has issued a stark warning after using one of the sprays just twice left her extremely ill and with persisting hyperpigmentation on her face. 4 4 The 31-year-old, who won the Miss GB pageant in 2020, was offered a free nasal tanning spray in exchange for promotion through Instagram. But the unlicensed product came with a host of negative side effects and left her with permanent skin damage. Nasal tanning sprays contain a substance known as melanotan II which may stimulate melanin production when inhaled and transferred into the bloodstream. Most are not regulated by health authorities, meaning that the quality, safety and dosage of each product could vary, and some products may be contaminated or unsafe. As such, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) is urging the public to avoid any tanning product that is 'inhaled or ingested'. It warns of side effects including nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, and changes in mole shape and size. The sprays could also cause coughing, sneezing and nasal congestion due to irritation of the respiratory tract. Jen knows these nasty side effects all too personally - and it only took one use for her to suffer. 'I was naive and I just took the product,' the beauty queen, from Grimsby, revealed on This Morning. 'I used it twice. 'The first time, it made me feel so sick and dizzy. I was actually driving to work, so how incredibly dangerous was that? 'My face was bright red, itchy - it was just horrific. 'Silly me tried it again the next day and it was even worse. 'I thought I was going to throw up on the way to work. It was just awful.' Costing from £20 to £35, nasal tanning sprays are a hit with younger people and have become a social media phenomenon. However, the process is considered unsafe as melanotan II is illegal in the UK. Susanna Daniels, CEO 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.' 4
Forbes
18-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Beware Of Nasal Tanning Sprays, Here Are The Concerns
You may have seen those advertisements claiming that you can just squirt nasal tanning sprays up your nose to help give yourself a tan that's oh so lit. But when it comes to your nose, it's important to pick carefully. Meaning choose carefully what you put up your nose. Such nasal tanners have not received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval or undergone rigorous scientific testing. Plus, there have already been reports of bad reactions to such tanners, suggesting that you might end up paying through the nose, so to speak. The main active ingredient in these nasal tanners is melanotan II. This is a synthetic hormone that's supposed to stimulate melanocytes—specialized cells in your skin— to produce more melanin. Melanin is the pigment that can make skin darker. Normally, the way to get a tan is to have sun exposure stimulate these melanocytes to churn out more melanin. When you spray melanotan II up your nose, it can rapidly seep through the inner lining of your nose into the underlying blood vessels to get into your bloodstream. From there, it can in theory go to melanocytes all over your body and bind to the melanocortin receptors on them. This in turn should stimulate the melanocytes to produce melanin. However, you still may need at least some ultraviolet light exposure to activate things. In other words, sitting in your man cave or woman cave spraying melanotan II up your nose alone may not give you that savage or dope tan. In fact, it's not even clear how much melanotan II is needed to go all George Hamilton versus Snooki versus whatever look you are aiming to get. That's because there's no real evidence that these nasal tanners have undergone rigrous scientific testing. Yes, many of the claims about nasal tanners lack that little called scientific evidence. It's not clear whether legitimate dose-response studies have been done by anyone to see how different bodies may respond to different doses of melanotan II. This lack of testing is a big reason why it's is currently illegal to sell melanotan II in the U.S., U.K. and Australia. Yes, illegal starting with a big 'ill.' That's because melanotan II has not been approved by regulatory bodies of those countries for any type of in the human body use. Again, melanotan II has not undergone enough rigorous testing to determine how effective or safe it may be. Plus, there have been reports of people suffering significant side effects from using such nasal tanning sprays. For example, William Higgens reported for the BBC on a case of a women suffering a severe allergic reaction after using a nasal tanner. This landed her in the hospital. She described herself as 'suffocating inside' and 'drowning' within her own body, which by the way aren't good feelings to have. There have also been reports of facial flushing, appetite changes, nausea, vomiting and, oh, spontaneous erections with melanotan II use. Besides the, 'Did you try nasal spray tanning or are you just glad see me' problem and other shorter term side effects, there may be longer term ones as well. Patty Weasler, RN, BSN listed for Verywell Health some potentially not very well skin changes, such as increased moles and dark lines. Yeah, chances are you aren't looking for something that will give you as many moles as possible. She also listed some really serious possibilities such as encephalopathy syndrome, rhabdomyolysis and melanoma. Moreover, since products containing such nasal tanners are being illegally sold and not regulated, you may have no idea of how much melanotan II may be in a given product and what other ingredients may be present. A study published in Drug Testing and Analysis found vials of injectable melanotan II labeled as having 10 milligrams (mg) only had 4.32 to 8.84 mg of the ingredient along with 4% to 6% impurities. So you may even be getting less of what you thought you were getting and more of what you didn't think you were getting. So, there isn't even a guarantee that a given nasal tanner will give you the ran you want. Of course, the time-tested way to get a suntan is to lay out in the sun or a tanning bed. The concern, though, with such options, as I laid out in Forbes previously, is the skin damage from ultraviolet light exposure, which can lead to bad stuff like skin cancer. This damage can be worsened when cover your skin with substances like suntan oil, baking lard or beer (yes, people were actually pushing beer-tanning on TikTok in 2023 as I detailed before in Forbes.) Using proper sunscreen can reduce your ultraviolet exposure while still allowing you to get a suntan. Wearing most types of sunscreen is not like wrapping your body with aluminum foil. Some UV rays still can get through to your skin to stimulate a tan. Just make sure that you use sunscreen with a sun protection factor or SPF of at least 30. If you want to completely minimize any UV exposure then maybe getting a faux tan is fo' you. There are two main ways to get a faux or fake suntan. One is via a spray tan that isn't supposed to go up your nose or in your eyes, mouth or any other opening in your body for that matter. Instead, you spray this solution that includes dihydroxyacetone on just the surface of your skin. There the DHA can react with the amino acids on your skin to give your skin a temporary, brownish (or in some cases maybe orangish) look that fades within a few weeks as your skin naturally sheds and exfoliates. Another way to get a fake suntan is to cover it with substances that have suntan-looking colors. This is the rationale behind bronzers, liquids, creams or powders that you can put on your skin to provide a tan appearance as long as the bronzers remain on your skin. Unless you plan to never ever take a shower or wash your face, you will probably have to reapply bronzers if you want to maintain the tanned appearance for a while. Oh, and don't stick bronzers up your nose or through any opening of your body either. In general, it's a good idea to keep your nose clean when it comes to tanning, especially the inside of your nose. Don't fall for bull-bleep claims made about stuff like nasal tanning sprays. Instead, stick to options that are backed by science. That can make the difference between your skin looking like all rosy versus a rotisserie chicken or worse.
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.
The Sun
15-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
‘Dangerous' nasal tanning sprays linked to killer cancer – as Brits issued warning
NASAL tanning sprays may increase the risk of melanoma skin cancer, it's been warned. The sprays - often sold on social media - claim to accelerate tanning and are often sniffed prior to sunbed use, a known risk for skin cancer. 4 Costing from £20 to £35, they are a hit with younger people and have become a social media phenomenon. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) is urging the public to avoid any tanning product that is 'inhaled or ingested'. It says side effects include nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, and changes in mole shape and size. Coughing, sneezing and nasal congestion due to irritation of the respiratory tract. Other reported side effects include prolonged erections, facial flushing and changes in libido. The sprays contains a substance known as melanotan II which when inhaled, reaches the bloodstream and may stimulate melanin production. Activated melanin creates a tan but 'may also encourage abnormal skin cell changes in response to UV exposure', according to the Melanoma Fund. The process is considered unsafe melanotan II is illegal in the UK. But due to the product falling under cosmetics, rather than medicines, it is not as tightly regulated. CTSI has found accounts on sites like Facebook and TikTok selling nasal tanning sprays available in flavours such as peach, bubblegum, and grape. It fears these products are being marketed at children. Susanna Daniels, CEO 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.' Gary Lipman, Chairman at the Sunbed Association, 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.' 'SCARRED FOR LIFE' People using the nasal tanning sprays have publically told their stories in a bid to warn others off them. Jen Atkin, a former Miss Great Britain winner from Grimsby, Lincolnshire, says she is permanently scarred after using a nasal tanning spray she bought on Instagram. "Unfortunately, I decided to go to extra lengths and fell into the trend of nasal tan," she said. Jen used the £25 product twice and a dark brown mark appeared "out of absolutely nowhere" on her forehead, which hasn't budged since. The spray also made her feel incredibly sick. Jen described it as "actually horrific", adding: "It scared the life out of me. It made me feel so nauseous and weird." 4 4 Student Erin Rider told Fabulous she believes that a £32 nasal tanner she bought on TikTok caused her skin to erupt in painful spots, which have left permanent scarring. She said: 'The spots turned out to be cystic acne. I never linked the spots to the nasal sprays but when I put two and two together and Googled possible side-effects, I stopped taking it immediately. 'The acne eventually turned into pigmentation and my forehead was patchy with visible white marks. 'I would never leave the house without heavy make-up. I didn't want to see people because of how awful my skin was. Five months on, it's wrecked my skin for ever. The scarring is permanent." What is melanoma, what are the symptoms and how can you prevent it? Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer that has a tendency to spread around the body. It is diagnosed 16,000 times per year, and tragically takes the lives of 2,340 people per year. The number of people being diagnosed with melanoma is increasing, and it is the 5th most common cancer in the UK. But it is also one of the most preventable cancers, with 86 per cent of cases in the UK avoidable. The best way to protect yourself from melanoma is to be sun safe - wear SPF every day, wear a hat and sunglasses and keep out of the sun in the hottest hours. It is also advised to avoid sunbeds. People who are fair-skinned, have blue or green eyes, blonde or red hair and a large number of freckles or moles are more likely to get skin cancer. Surgery is the main treatment for melanoma, particularly if it is found early. This will involve removing the affected tissue in the skin. Radiotherapy, medicines and chemotherapy are also sometimes used to try and stop the cancer from growing. Treatment depends on the severity of the disease. What are the symptoms? The key thing to look out for are changes to an existing mole, or a new mole on your skin. Most experts recommend using the simple 'ABCDE' rule to look for symptoms of melanoma skin cancer, which can appear anywhere on the body. There are five letters/words to remember: A symmetrical – melanomas usually have two very different halves and are an irregular shape B order – melanomas usually have a notched or ragged border C olours – melanomas will usually be a mix of two or more colours D iameter – most melanomas are usually larger than 6mm in diameter E nlargement or elevation – a mole that changes size over time is more likely to be a melanoma A mole that changes size, shape or colour may be a melanoma. But other signs to look out for include moles that are: Swollen and sore Bleeding Itchy Crusty How deadly is it? Melanoma is a deadly form of skin cancer. The outlook of a person's disease depends on the stage of the cancer when it was diagnosed. Survival is better for women than it is for men. 'We don't know exactly why this is. It may be because women are more likely to see a doctor about their melanoma at an earlier stage,' says Cancer Research UK. The charity says that generally, statistics show that in England, more than 85 out of every 100 people (more than 85 per cent) will survive their melanoma for 10 years or more after they are diagnosed. Around 100 per cent in England diagnosed with melanoma at stage 1 - when the cancer cells are only in the top layer of skin - will survive for five years or more after drops to 80 per cent for stage 2. Some 70 per cent live for a further five years when they are diagnosed in stage 3, which is when the cancer has started to spread to nearby lymph nodes. At stage 4, when the melanoma has spread elsewhere in the body, almost 30 per cent survive their cancer for 5 years or more. Cancer Research says the stage 4 data does not account for age differences. Age can affect outlook and younger people have a better prognosis than older people. Age can affect outlook and younger people have a better prognosis than older people. What is melanoma? Melanocytes are cells in the skin that give us the colour of our skin because they produce a pigment, known as melanin. When you sit in the sun, melanocytes produce more pigment (a sun tan), which spreads to other skin cells to protect them from the sun's rays. But melanocytes are also where cancer starts. Too much UV causes sunburn, and this is a sign of damage to the skin's DNA. The UV triggers changes in the melanocytes, which makes the genetic material become faulty and cause abnormal cell growth. People who burn easily are more at risk of skin cancer because their cells do not produce as much pigment to protect their skin. Those with albinism are at the most risk because their skin produces no pigment at all.
