For The Love Of God, Stop Snorting Nasal Tanning Sprays

Doctors are warning against using tanning nasal spray to darken your complexion after the products have gone viral on TikTok.

There are dozens of companies flogging the nasal sprays on TikTok, including Glow Darker, a UK-based company that has gone viral within the platform’s beauty community.

Glow Darker actively promotes using the product in conjunction with tanning beds, which are known to cause skin cancer and are illegal in Australia. Nowhere on the company’s website or TikTok account does it mention the risk of tanning beds, but that’s not even the biggest issue at hand.

Tanning nasal sprays are unlicensed and unregulated, which means there’s no real way to be sure the product you’re snorting is actually safe for human consumption.

Back in 2019, the Therapeutic Goods Administration released a warning about melanotan — an ingredient often used in tanning injections.

“They are not included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) and have not been assessed for quality, safety or efficacy by the TGA,” the TGA said at the time.

“It is illegal to advertise and supply these products, and their use has proven serious side effects that can be very damaging to one’s health.”

According to the TGA, side effects of melanotan include “darkened skin, increased moles and freckles, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, flushing of the face, involuntary stretching and yawning, and spontaneous erections”.

UK doctor Gabriella Birley told The Daily Mail that the lack of testing for these products means we truly don’t know the reality of just how dangerous these products could be — both in the short and long term.

“The products have been designed to try and stimulate melanocytes which are the cells in your skin that produce pigment,” said Birley.

“Due to the lack of testing, it is unknown whether this has the potential to overstimulate those cells and potentially cause something more sinister like melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer.”

In a statement provided to Junkee, the TGA noted it was aware of melanotan products being sold in Australia but actively warns consumers against using any products containing melanotan-I or melanotan-II.

“Melanotan-I and melanotan-II are prescription-only medicines and have the potential to cause harm if not used under the supervision and instruction of a health professional.  Consumers are reminded of the potential health risks of using unapproved therapeutic goods; that is, health products that have not been assessed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for their safety, quality and efficacy. The TGA further warns suppliers and advertisers that these products are not approved for marketing or sale in Australia,” the TGA told Junkee.

Additionally, the TGA noted that there can be penalties for selling, importing, exporting products without TGA approval, or for possessing prescription-only medicines without a valid prescription.

“Consumers should be aware that state laws may also apply to possessing prescription-only medicines without a valid prescription,” said the TGA.