Winter isn’t known for sunbathing weather, so those who want to maintain a year-round glow turn to self-tanning to keep their skin bronzed. And a new trend made popular by TikTok has some folks turning to a surprising method for that faux glow - tanning nasal sprays. Yep, they’re spraying a tanning solution up their noses to get a “tan from within.”
This stuff comes in bottles that look similar to allergy nasal spray bottles, but this is one trend you probably don’t want to try at home, according to doctors. Here’s what you need to know:
● These tanning nasal sprays are made with an ingredient called melanotan, which is a man-made chemical that stimulates the body to produce melanin, the pigment that determines skin and hair color.
● Dermatologist Erum Ilyas explains that the tanning sprays are applied inside the nostrils “to increase absorption in a non-invasive way.”
But are these sprays safe? Well, melanotan isn’t a regulated substance, which makes it hard to say how manufacturers are using the ingredient in terms of concentration and interactions with other active ingredients, according to Ilyas.
● Merry Thornton, a certified physician assistant and skin care expert, says there isn’t enough data or testing to recommend using tanning nasal sprays.
● Plus, melanotan can cause side effects including nausea, flushing, changes to blood pressure and headaches and administering it through the nose can increase those side effects. Thornton explains that melanotan can also make moles and freckles darker and that “could lead to misdiagnosis of skin cancer, as well.”
● Another issue is that many manufacturers of tanning nasal sprays direct users to increase UV exposure while using the product, either from the sun or tanning beds. This is concerning since UV exposure increases the risk of skin cancer and premature aging. And Ilyas points out that instructing users to get more UV exposure is “an example of how unregulated this product is.”
● The good news? Melanotan isn’t found in typical self-tanning lotions and sprays - the kind that don’t go up your nose. So if you want to get your winter glow on, stick to those.
Source: Huff Post