Nasal Tanning Spray

Submission 2,126

Part of a series on TikTok. [View Related Entries]

About

Nasal Tanning Spray is a product that users spray into their nostrils that is meant to increase the effects of sun exposure and tanning beds, purportedly leading to a stronger tan. In early 2022, doctors and healthcare professionals began issuing warnings about the spray as videos of people using it became popularized as a trend on TikTok.

Origin

Nasal tanning sprays, such as the kind from Nasal Tanners^[1] and Permatan,^[2] became increasingly popularized over the course of the 2010s.^[3] These sprays contain Melanotan, a man-made chemical used to treat specific skin conditions, rosacea, fibromyalgia and erectile dysfunction.^[4]^[5] The spray increases the production of skin-darkening pigments in the body, purportedly leading to a more effective tan.

Spread

In 2011, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in the U.K. launched an investigation into unregulated nasal tanning sprays after a number of users of the product reported negative side effects like head rushes and dizziness.^[6] In November 2020, Wales Online^[9] published an article about a woman who used a nasal tanning spray along with tanning injections and developed Actinic Keratosis, a rough patch on the skin that develops from sun exposure.

Throughout the early 2020s, a number of TikTokers posted videos using and promoting nasal tanning sprays to their viewers. Some of these TikTokers^[7] also run promotional accounts by companies selling the sprays (examples shown below, left and right).

On January 13th, 2022, TikToker^[8] @drwhitneybowe posted a video warning against the use of nasal tanning sprays, gaining over 103,000 views in two months (shown below).

On March 1st, the television show The Real Daytime shared the trend on a segment discussing its dangers, gaining over 58,000 views on YouTube in three weeks (shown below, left). On March 12th, the television show The Doctors also spoke about the dangers of the spray, gaining over 2,200 views on YouTube in two weeks (shown below, right).

On March 12th, Little Things^[11] published an article discussing the risks of the sprays. On March 23rd, Today^[10] then published an article about the sprays and their promotion on TikTok. In the piece, dermatologist Dr. Teo Soleymani warned against the sprays and said they're not approved by the FDA as they can produce side effects like permanent skin darkening, nausea and vomiting. They also mention how Melanotan can darken moles and lead to melanoma. Shortly after, TikTok made a statement to Today saying they were cracking down and deleting videos promoting nasal tanning sprays.