Public health officials are warning against nasal tanning sprays. The reasons these products are becoming so popular is that they seem harmless, but are unfortunately tied to several dangerous health effects including melanoma skin cancer. Susanna Daniels, the chief executive of Melanoma Focus, has passionately condemned these products. She particularly draws attention to melanotan 2 – a synthetic hormone that is not licensed for use in the UK.
Nasal tanning sprays are being sold as cosmetics. They deliver melanotan 2 without delay into the program when put into the nostrils. Sadly, if these products are not manufactured within the UK, they all too often slip through the regulatory cracks and therefore put consumers at risk. They’re all very reasonably priced, about £20 each, with some “extreme flavored nasals” going up to £30. Inexplicably, despite their known safety profiles these products are still readily available.
Daniels highlighted the dangers of these sprays. “We’re becoming increasingly concerned about the use of both nasal tanning sprays and tanning injections and their potential links with melanoma skin cancer,” she remarked.
The risks of melanotan 2 go far beyond skin cancer. The synthetic hormone has been linked to a number of devastating health complications. These side effects range from nausea and vomiting to hypertension and renal failure. Safety assessments by independent experts are not currently available for many of these products, making their use all the more alarming.
Richard Knight, representative of the national trading standards, raised concerns about the unknowable dangers associated with these unregulated products. “What can happen when putting unregulated products into our bodies,” he cautioned, reinforcing the need for consumer awareness.
Edith Eagle’s case is a chilling reminder of what can happen if care is not taken to protect these vulnerable individuals. After trying out a nasal tanning spray, her body went into anaphylactic shock. It caused her to feel like she was “suffocating” and “drowning in [her] own body.” She then realized that her condition became so serious that she needed to go to the hospital.
The self-tan market is booming right now, worth an estimated £582.2 million. Unfortunately, the more we require rollback of the TOS, the more dangerous products flood the marketplace. Most consumers would not understand that nasal tanning sprays generally do not include necessary health warnings or instructions for safe use.
Public health advocates are calling on consumers to practice precaution as this trend continues to grow in popularity. They advocate for rigorous product research and testing before deployment. Given the serious risk of melanotan 2 and analogous chemicals, further examination and awareness in the beauty community is required to prevent these harmful substances from reaching consumers.