Search for #sunbed and you\u2019ll find millions of videos. Many of them show young women supplementing their sunbed sessions with nasal tanning sprays.<\/p>\n
Welcome to the deeply worrying world of \u2018extreme tanning\u2019 \u2013 where young women use nasal sprays and injections containing synthetic hormones to intensify their tan, with no thought for the dangers, or indeed the ingredients, in these products.<\/p>\n
You\u2019d be forgiven for never having heard of nasal tanning sprays \u2013 or their forerunner, the tanning injection. Many of these enhancers could very well contain melanotan II \u2013 a synthetically generated product that mimics a hormone found in our body called melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH).<\/p>\n
When we are exposed to UV light, MSH stimulates the skin to produce more melanin, the pigment that affects how dark our skin tone is. Inhaling or injecting melanotan II stimulates the pigment cells in a similar way to MSH, thus making skin darker.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/101602791-15040387-image-m-2_1756314809301.jpg\")
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A TikTok user with a tan-enhancing nasal spray that may not contain melanotan II<\/p>\n
Pearl Koster, 22, from Surrey, started using sunbeds when she was 18 and first dabbled in nasal sprays in April, while working at a sunbed shop. She shared a video on TikTok that has been liked 15,000 times and bears the caption: \u2018You\u2019re so tanned! Thanks I spend \u00a350 a week on sunbeds and spray melatonin up my nose.\u2019<\/p>\n
Proving that so many users aren\u2019t aware of what exactly they are spraying up their noses, Pearl laughs when she admits to me that the caption for her video mistakenly says she sprays \u2018melatonin\u2019 \u2013 a hormone that helps to control sleep \u2013 up her nostrils, when in reality it\u2019s likely to be melanotan II.<\/p>\n
\u2018This is the thing,\u2019 she says, \u2018no one really knows what\u2019s in these things [nasal sprays]. It\u2019s bad really. Everyone corrected me in the comments.\u2019<\/p>\n
It was when a colleague at the sunbed shop offered her a nasal spray for free that she first tried them: \u2018I used nasals for a couple of months and they do make you really dark.\u2019<\/p>\n
But what of the dangers \u2013 both for herself and her friends?<\/p>\n
In 2010, the evidence that sunbed use posed a serious health risk was so compelling the Government banned them for under-18s, and by 2013 the number of tanning shops had fallen by almost a third.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But according to recent research, their use is on the rise again. Charity Melanoma Focus revealed that a shocking 42 per cent of 18 to 25-year-olds have used them. And many are intensifying their resulting tan \u2013 and risks \u2013 with sprays and jabs.<\/p>\n
This substance, melanotan II, has never been approved for cosmetic use in the UK and is illegal to sell here. Richard Knight, Chartered Trading Standards Institute\u2019s lead officer for cosmetics and beauty, warns that very little is known about these products as they are unlicensed, so haven\u2019t undergone rigorous testing.<\/p>\n
\u2018You only need to go online to discover all the potential adverse effects of melanotan II: respiratory problems, high blood pressure, nausea and vomiting, changes to existing moles, links to skin cancer and kidney problems,\u2019 he says. \u2018But the bottom line is that the long-term side-effects are not well studied yet. You don\u2019t do studies on unlicensed medicines.\u2019<\/p>\n
Last month, Femail revealed the devastating story of Paige Phillips, a tanning addict who combined nasal sprays with regular sunbed sessions. Paige developed an aggressive and extremely rare melanoma in the roof of her mouth. Over two years, she endured gruelling treatments as the cancer spread to her neck, lungs and brain. In March this year, aged just 24, Paige died.<\/p>\n
Her mother, Debbie, told Femail she is certain the tanning sprays and sunbeds were to blame. Yet TikTok videos continue to be shared by sellers flogging these sprays and injections, as well as users, some of whom make commission, encouraging people to purchase while stocks last.<\/p>\n
Pearl is seemingly ignorant of the risks and as much a victim of the trend for tanning at any cost as anyone else.<\/p>\n
\u2018There\u2019s no ingredients listed on the sprays so you don\u2019t know what you\u2019re getting yourself into,\u2019 she says. \u2018Sunbeds are bad enough; I know I shouldn\u2019t be adding to it.\u2019<\/p>\n
So why use them? Her answer is depressingly familiar.<\/p>\n
\u2018I genuinely feel prettier when I\u2019m tanned. I feel ugly when I\u2019m pale,\u2019 she says. \u2018My sister says I\u2019ve got tan dysmorphia. My sister and Mum will say to me: \u201cPearl, you\u2019re so dark,\u201d and I just don\u2019t see it.<\/p>\n
\u2018My mum has no real knowledge on what nasals are. But my sister\u2019s a bit older than me and says: \u201cYou really shouldn\u2019t be doing that.\u201d \u2019<\/p>\n
![\"Pearl](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/101602877-15040387-image-m-4_1756314947356.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Pearl Koster told her TikTok followers she ‘sprays melatonin up my nose’<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/101602951-15040387-image-m-6_1756315027067.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
A packet of ‘tanning accelerator’ can easily be bought on the internet<\/p>\n
But Pearl \u2013 who says ordinary fake tan just leaves a patchy effect \u2013 can\u2019t rule out using them again in future. \u2018It\u2019s always in my head. Even though I know it\u2019s bad. They [the nasal sprays] do work, that\u2019s why they\u2019re so addictive.\u2019<\/p>\n
The fact that they can be purchased as easily as a mascara only makes matters worse. Indeed, I was shocked by how simple it was to buy such seemingly dangerous products.<\/p>\n
On TikTok Shop, an integrated store which allows brands and creators to sell directly to users, I searched for \u2018tan enhancer\u2019 and ordered the first result that appeared, a nasal spray sold by a company called Delux Tanners.<\/p>\n
A variety of sweet flavours such as bubblegum and cherry cola makes them sound palatable. I paid \u00a323.99 for a watermelon-flavoured spray, which arrived just three days later. The bottle does not have a label, so it\u2019s unclear whether it could contain melanotan II.<\/p>\n
This product describes itself as a \u2018cosmetic tanning lotion\u2019, however, when it arrives it\u2019s quite clearly a nasal spray, not a cream. This is confirmed by the business cards tucked inside the pouch with instructions on how to inhale it.<\/p>\n
The card also worryingly suggests a double dose: \u2018If you struggle to tan we recommend two sprays per side, if you tan easily use one per side. This is done every day until you achieve your desired tan, you can then cut this process down to twice per week, although some people prefer to keep it daily.\u2019<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also a 50 per cent discount code off my next order.<\/p>\n
When I contacted TikTok it said: \u2018Our TikTok Shop Prohibited Products Guidelines are clear that sellers are prohibited from selling products that claim to have medical benefits such as nasal\/oral tanning sprays.<\/p>\n
![\"Debbie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/101602995-15040387-image-m-8_1756315204500.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Debbie Phillips and her daughter Paige, who was killed by cancer brought on by tanning<\/p>\n
\u2018We have removed the flagged listing which violates these guidelines. Our Community Guidelines also state that we do not allow the depiction, promotion or trade of controlled substances. This includes unlicensed drugs and we have removed the flagged content which breaches our rules.\u2019<\/p>\n
When I contacted Delux Tanners, it claimed I had received business cards in error for a product that was discontinued at the start of the year.<\/p>\n
However, I found a video, reshared by the Delux Tanners TikTok account, posted on TikTok in April, by a woman who says: \u2018This might be controversial, but I don\u2019t even care, I found the best tanning hack: Delux Tanners… I know they do currently have a sale on at the moment, you need these in your life.\u2019<\/p>\n
It shows an identical small black bottle to the one I received through the post.<\/p>\n
When I flagged the video to Delux Tanners, it was swiftly removed from its profile. A spokesperson for Delux Tanners says: \u2018Delux Tanners does not manufacture, import or sell inhaled nasal sprays. Our products are cosmetic products intended for external use only.<\/p>\n
\u2018They undergo the standard cosmetic safety assessments and stability testing required under UK regulations. After reading your email and seeing the word \u201cinhale,\u201d we checked and can confirm that wording related to a discontinued product from early this year. An older insert appears to have been packed in error. Current sprays are supplied with updated cards that state external cosmetic use only. References to \u201cmelano-infused\u201d in our branding are simply cosmetic marketing terms, not an indication of melanotan content. None of our listings or current products mention melanotan nor have we ever sold a product that contains melanotan, our sprays contain no prescription-only substances.\u2019<\/p>\n
![\"Another](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/101602811-15040387-image-m-10_1756315365094.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Another social media user shares a video of herself using a nasal spray<\/p>\n
Next I googled \u2018tanning injection\u2019, and the second result that appeared was \u2018Buy Melanotan 2 \u2013 Tanning Injections For Sale\u2019. The homepage of the website boasts, \u2018The UK and Ireland\u2019s favorite [sic] place to Buy Melanotan 2 Tanning Injections and MT2 Nasal Spray from UK Suppliers.\u2019<\/p>\n
To make matters worse, there are clear inaccuracies on the site that lull potential users into a false sense of security.<\/p>\n
The website claims melanotan II will \u2018create a protective layer by triggering melanin production, reducing UV damage and allowing you to tan with less sun exposure. Unlike extended sun exposure, which forces your skin to tan through damage, MT2 works from the inside out \u2013 safely, efficiently, and without the burn\u2019.<\/p>\n
Dr Ross Perry, a GP and the medical director of Cosmedics Skin Clinics, with extensive experience in dermatology, rubbishes these claims of melanotan II\u2019s protective powers.<\/p>\n
\u2018If we overuse our melanin and keep getting a tan, we\u2019re changing the DNA of our skin. Your skin will age prematurely and you\u2019ll increase the risk of skin cancer.<\/p>\n
\u2018There\u2019s no quality assurance, no idea what\u2019s in it, and it\u2019s not licensed for cosmetic or medical use. Inhaling it carries the same risks \u2013 you could get an allergy in your airways, an anaphylactic reaction… It\u2019s essentially playing with people\u2019s lives.\u2019<\/p>\n
Three days after I placed my order, I receive a jiffy bag containing a tiny glass vial. No return label, no instructions or ingredients list. The vial is filled with suspicious-looking white crystals, which could easily be mistaken for the \u2018party\u2019 drug MDMA.<\/p>\n
The instructions on the website are simple but alarming. Withdraw 1ml of water into the syringe, inject it into the vial so the powder dissolves, then store it in the fridge. When you\u2019re ready to tan, inject yourself in the stomach with 0.1ml (one vial offers ten doses).<\/p>\n
The website explains: \u2018By the fourth dose, you might notice freckles starting to darken \u2013 especially if you\u2019re very fair-skinned. For some, this change takes a few extra days. A bit of UV exposure is then needed to activate the full tanning effect.\u2019<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also a note to reassure those feeling wary: \u2018Here at the office, we\u2019ve all used MT2 for over ten years. Everything we suggest is based on real experience.\u2019<\/p>\n
It\u2019s unclear who \u2018we\u2019 refers to or where this office is located.<\/p>\n
I obviously didn\u2019t inhale or inject either.<\/p>\n
Dr Catherine Borysiewicz, a consultant dermatologist, recalls coming across accelerator products 15 years ago, as an under-the-counter injection in tanning shops. But she worries the advent of nasal sprays has made a product, which some may have been nervous to inject, more \u2018user-friendly\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018The number of young people using sunbeds is astronomical,\u2019 she warns. \u2018We\u2019re going to be heading for a complete crisis.\u2019<\/p>\n
The problem is that tan enhancers are seemingly difficult to police. While tanning injections fall under the jurisdiction of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), nasal sprays are not defined as medical or cosmetic products.<\/p>\n
Equally, the MHRA also has limited powers. The IP address of the injectable tanning site I purchased from is in Austin, Texas. The MHRA does not have the power to prosecute someone in the USA.<\/p>\n
Nasal sprays are only subject to general product safety law. Under this, consumers still have basic rights that are currently being ignored. The name and address of the producer of the product should be included along with a list of ingredients.<\/p>\n
Dr Borysiewicz says: \u2018I think every dermatologist hopes they\u2019ll be banned, along with sunbeds.\u2019<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, how many more people in pursuit of a summer tan will meet the same brutal fate as Paige? As summer begins to fade, one can only hope young women resist the temptation to prolong their tan with nasal sprays or injections. Regardless of the claims of TikTok users peddling these products, the consequences are chilling.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A fresh-faced blonde girl in her 20s smiles at the camera while filming her \u2018tan routine\u2019. It doesn\u2019t…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":98816,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[97,519,59,102,617,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-98815","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health","8":"tag-dailymail","9":"tag-femail","10":"tag-gb","11":"tag-health","12":"tag-tiktok","13":"tag-uk","14":"tag-united-kingdom","15":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98815","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98815"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98815\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98816"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98815"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98815"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98815"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}