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 just twice left her extremely ill and with persisting hyperpigmentation on her face.
The 31-year-old, who won the in 2020, was offered a free nasal tanning spray in exchange for promotion through .
But the unlicensed product came with a host of negative side effects and left her with .
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 product that is ‘inhaled or ingested’.
It warns of side effects including nausea, vomiting, , and .
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 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 and their potential links with
“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.”;;
