I have permanent skin damage from using tanning nasal spray twice – it made me dizzy & nauseous too, says former Miss GB
So much so, former Miss GB Jen Atkins has issued a stark warning after using one of the sprays just twice left her extremely ill and with persisting hyperpigmentation on her face.
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The 31-year-old, who won the Miss GB pageant in 2020, was offered a free nasal tanning spray in exchange for promotion through Instagram.
But the unlicensed product came with a host of negative side effects and left her with permanent skin damage.
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 tanning product that is 'inhaled or ingested'.
It warns of side effects including nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, and changes in mole shape and size.
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 are a hit with younger people 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 tanning injections and their potential links with melanoma skin cancer.
'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.'
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