Tanning Nasal Spray: Please Don’t Use It

Tyrosinase is an enzyme found in our skin cells that helps convert the L-tyrosine into melanin, and dihydroxy methylchromonyl palmitate (also known as Chromabright) is a synthetic molecule commonly used in skincare products that aim to brighten and even out skin tone, Dr. Shokeen continues.

Is tanning nasal spray FDA-approved?

Tanning nasal spray is not FDA-approved. So, while the ingredients and substances noted above may be marketed as tanning aids, their actual effectiveness and safety can vary.

“With no regulation, there is very little idea what percentage of the agents are in any of these,” Dr. Shokeen says, and Dr. Camp agrees. “The composition of the product may not match exactly with the ingredients on the label,” he says of products that aren’t FDA-approved. “Buyer beware.”

Is tanning nasal spray safe?

In short: No. First of all, snorting anything up the nose is generally not a good idea, according to Dr. Camp. “Inhalation can trigger asthma or other inflammatory cascades but more importantly with no understanding of what can be in these sprays, it’s impossible to tell what you are inhaling,” he says.

Melanotan could also potentially lead to melanoma or other skin growths, since it mimics the body’s melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), causing melanogenesis. This can result in the overstimulatation of melanocytes, says Dr. Shokeen “There could be an association to melanoma or at least an increase in moles of the individual,” she explains. “This is concerning.”

There are other risks associated with melanotan, according to Dr. Camp. “Possible consequences of melanotan use include effects on the gastrointestinal and endocrine systems,” he says. Further, since you spray the product directly into your nose, it increases the absorption into your bloodstream, elevating risks and side effects.

“Once you have inhaled melanotan II through the nose, the analogue gets activated by a brief exposure to ultraviolet light,” Dr. Shokeen concurs. “This stimulates generalized tanning over the whole body by triggering a darkening generalized and darkening of moles. This is quite risky, and is still illegal in the UK and Australia.”

Other “tanning aids” aren’t without risk either. For example, dihydroxyacetone can cause free radical formation, which leads to multiple signs of premature aging, says Dr. Shokeen. Other side effects include acne, decreased appetite, gastrointestinal issues, nausea, and facial flushing, according to the Cleveland Clinic.