- Videos of TikTok users with nasal tanning sprays have amassed hundreds of thousands of views.
- Dermatologists said nasal tanning sprays can contain melanotan II, a peptide the boosts melanin production.
- Melanotan II usage can lead to nausea, dizziness, flushing, and changes in appetite.
Influencers and brands are promoting nasal tanning spray products on TikTok that promise instant tans without spending time in the sun — but dermatologists say to stay far away.
The "nasal tanning spray" search tag on TikTok features videos amassing nearly 100 million views. Popular TikToker Hannah Hill said she would not stop using nasal tanning sprays despite the risks because she would rather "live hot than die ugly" in a now-deleted video that was liked over 130,000 times, according to the New York Post.
Dermatologists are now warning people to avoid the sprays because most contain melanotan II, a synthetic peptide that has an array of side effects including dizziness and nausea.
Nasal tanning sprays can boost melanin production, but at a cost to overall health
Melanotan II is a synthetic peptide, or a group of amino acids, that can stimulate melanin production, dermatologist Dr. Heather Rogers told Insider.
Melanin is a natural pigment in the human body that gives skin, hair, and eyes their color, and protects against ultraviolet rays that cause skin aging and cancer. Rogers said melanotan II mimics a naturally occurring peptide called melanocyte-stimulating hormone that induces skin cells to produce melanin.
Since there are no approved medicines, pills, or procedures that increase melanin production, many people tan in the sun or in indoor tanning beds to stimulate cells to produce more pigment. These methods do not safely boost melanin and increase skin cancer risk, Yale Medicine dermatologist Christine Ko previously told Insider.
Though melanotan II has a myriad of side effects, a similar peptide called melanotan I can be safely inserted by dermatologists under the skin to treat people with intense sun sensitivity, according to Rogers.
The US Food and Drug Administration has not approved melanotan II for use, an FDA spokesperson said in an email to Insider.
Nasal tanning sprays don't lead to permanent results
Many companies sell melanotan II in nasal sprays due to the ease of absorption, said Dr. Marisa Garshick, a dermatologist based in New York City.
The mucous membrane in the nose is thin and has a lot of blood vessels, allowing sprays to penetrate the body quickly, she said.
Taking melanotan II through a spray everyday for five days will darken the skin, Rogers said, but the effects will wear off without constant use. "Just like if you go to Hawaii, get tan and then you leave and the tan fades, because you've taken away the stimulus," she said.
The list of side effects far outweigh the benefits, dermatologists say
Side effects of taking melanotan II include nausea, dizziness, flushing, changes in appetite, and sexual side effects like increased erections, Garshick said.
Because the peptide isn't regulated, there is little research available on the long-term impacts of nasal tanning sprays. Garshick said some users have reported not seeing any effects with taking melanotan II, which might prompt them to increase their dose.
"By taking this, it just makes things harder on you and your dermatologist to figure out what's a problem, and actually increases your risk of making pigmented skin cancers," Rogers said.