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| 'Nasal tanners left me suffocating in hospital' | 'Nasal tanners left me suffocating in hospital' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Edith Eagle began using the tanners ahead of a holiday in Fuerteventura | Edith Eagle began using the tanners ahead of a holiday in Fuerteventura |
| A woman has told how she was left in hospital "unable to breathe" after suffering a severe reaction to an unlicensed nasal tanning spray she bought online. | A woman has told how she was left in hospital "unable to breathe" after suffering a severe reaction to an unlicensed nasal tanning spray she bought online. |
| Edith Eagle said she felt like she was "suffocating" and "drowning inside her own body" after the allergic collapse she believes was linked to the product. | Edith Eagle said she felt like she was "suffocating" and "drowning inside her own body" after the allergic collapse she believes was linked to the product. |
| Nasal tanners are designed to be sprayed into the nostrils and claim to work by administering a substance known as Melanotan II, a chemical that darkens skin pigmentation. | Nasal tanners are designed to be sprayed into the nostrils and claim to work by administering a substance known as Melanotan II, a chemical that darkens skin pigmentation. |
| It is illegal to sell medicinal products containing Melanotan II in the UK but as the tanners are sold cosmetically they fall outside that remit. | It is illegal to sell medicinal products containing Melanotan II in the UK but as the tanners are sold cosmetically they fall outside that remit. |
| However, they are not covered by UK cosmetics regulations, meaning they are not subjected to the same scrutiny as other over-the-counter beauty products. | However, they are not covered by UK cosmetics regulations, meaning they are not subjected to the same scrutiny as other over-the-counter beauty products. |
| Experts have said they have not been fully researched and could contain toxic ingredients. | Experts have said they have not been fully researched and could contain toxic ingredients. |
| Ms Eagle suffered a severe reaction she believes was linked to a nasal tanner | Ms Eagle suffered a severe reaction she believes was linked to a nasal tanner |
| Ms Eagle said she purchased tanners online believing they would give her a quick and easy bronzed look ahead of a planned holiday to Fuerteventura in April 2023. | Ms Eagle said she purchased tanners online believing they would give her a quick and easy bronzed look ahead of a planned holiday to Fuerteventura in April 2023. |
| They had been recommended to her by someone she knew, but she said she did not realise they were unlicensed and unregulated. | They had been recommended to her by someone she knew, but she said she did not realise they were unlicensed and unregulated. |
| The 47-year-old, from King's Lynn in Norfolk, inhaled the spray twice a day, believing it would give her tan "time to build up before we actually get into the sunshine". | The 47-year-old, from King's Lynn in Norfolk, inhaled the spray twice a day, believing it would give her tan "time to build up before we actually get into the sunshine". |
| But on the second day of the trip she was rushed to hospital after the apparent allergic reaction spiralled. | But on the second day of the trip she was rushed to hospital after the apparent allergic reaction spiralled. |
| "I literally could not breathe," she said. | "I literally could not breathe," she said. |
| "And all what went through my mind was, will I even get to the hospital because I could not breathe. | "And all what went through my mind was, will I even get to the hospital because I could not breathe. |
| "I can't even explain it, but I was suffocating inside. It was as if I was drowning within my own body." | "I can't even explain it, but I was suffocating inside. It was as if I was drowning within my own body." |
| The BBC managed to buy several unlicensed nasal spray products over the counter and online | The BBC managed to buy several unlicensed nasal spray products over the counter and online |
| Ms Eagle said she became suspicious after her stepdaughter, who also used a tanner, spotted a Facebook post from someone who said they had also suffered a bad reaction. | Ms Eagle said she became suspicious after her stepdaughter, who also used a tanner, spotted a Facebook post from someone who said they had also suffered a bad reaction. |
| She told her hospital consultant, who asked where she had bought the tanner and what was in it. | She told her hospital consultant, who asked where she had bought the tanner and what was in it. |
| He also became suspicious, she said. | He also became suspicious, she said. |
| "Of course, there was nothing on it apart from a pretty label on the front, no ingredients whatsoever. There was nothing, really, I could show him. And that was a frightening thing," she said. | "Of course, there was nothing on it apart from a pretty label on the front, no ingredients whatsoever. There was nothing, really, I could show him. And that was a frightening thing," she said. |
| "Once I was allowed to go back to the hotel the consultant said 'Just remember next time, you may not be so lucky'." | "Once I was allowed to go back to the hotel the consultant said 'Just remember next time, you may not be so lucky'." |
| 'Side effects' | 'Side effects' |
| The products are promoted on social media and are readily available to buy online, while the BBC has also found beauty salons and tanning shops advertising them for sale. | The products are promoted on social media and are readily available to buy online, while the BBC has also found beauty salons and tanning shops advertising them for sale. |
| The BBC North West and North East Investigations team visited high street premises to see how easy they were to obtain. | The BBC North West and North East Investigations team visited high street premises to see how easy they were to obtain. |
| In Manchester and on Merseyside, a reporter managed to purchase several sprays from salons for between £20 and £25, sold with minimal instructions and no acknowledgment of any risks or dangers. | |
| Lecturer Stephen Childs said any unlicensed product comes with a host of risks | Lecturer Stephen Childs said any unlicensed product comes with a host of risks |
| In Newcastle, a staff member at a gym sold a reporter an "extreme strength spray" for £25, with verbal instructions to use it before taking a sun bed. | In Newcastle, a staff member at a gym sold a reporter an "extreme strength spray" for £25, with verbal instructions to use it before taking a sun bed. |
| Also on Merseyside, the BBC was able to buy a "quadruple strength" spray on offer for £20, with the reporter advised to use it morning and night. | |
| Tests at the University of Sunderland found Melanotan II present in varying strengths in six of the 10 samples the BBC had bought. | Tests at the University of Sunderland found Melanotan II present in varying strengths in six of the 10 samples the BBC had bought. |
| Stephen Childs, a senior lecturer in pharmaceutical chemistry, said: "There's a massive discrepancy in the amount of this drug in the products people are purchasing. | Stephen Childs, a senior lecturer in pharmaceutical chemistry, said: "There's a massive discrepancy in the amount of this drug in the products people are purchasing. |
| "The higher the dosage, the more risks that are involved and more side effects are likely to be involved." | "The higher the dosage, the more risks that are involved and more side effects are likely to be involved." |
| Cancer risk fears | Cancer risk fears |
| He said the samples that did not contain the active ingredient were not necessarily safer as they could include other chemicals that "could be toxic". | He said the samples that did not contain the active ingredient were not necessarily safer as they could include other chemicals that "could be toxic". |
| "Any unlicensed product really comes with a whole host of dangers. There's no safety data. There are no long-term studies as to the impact on people's health," Mr Childs added. | "Any unlicensed product really comes with a whole host of dangers. There's no safety data. There are no long-term studies as to the impact on people's health," Mr Childs added. |
| Another concern is that nasal tanners are often promoted for use in conjunction with sessions on sunbeds to maximise their effectiveness as part of a tanning routine. | Another concern is that nasal tanners are often promoted for use in conjunction with sessions on sunbeds to maximise their effectiveness as part of a tanning routine. |
| Cancer charities believe this could significantly increase the risk of developing skin cancer. | Cancer charities believe this could significantly increase the risk of developing skin cancer. |
| Kerry Rafferty started the Melanoma-Me charity | Kerry Rafferty started the Melanoma-Me charity |
| Kerry Rafferty, who started charity Melanoma-Me after her own diagnosis, described the products as "skin cancer in a bottle". | Kerry Rafferty, who started charity Melanoma-Me after her own diagnosis, described the products as "skin cancer in a bottle". |
| "It's absolutely terrifying, you've got these tanners that nobody really knows what's in them and then they [could be] accelerated by the sunbed use, which we know causes melanoma, so it is a big worry," she said. | "It's absolutely terrifying, you've got these tanners that nobody really knows what's in them and then they [could be] accelerated by the sunbed use, which we know causes melanoma, so it is a big worry," she said. |
| "I think that this could be one of the reasons that there is an increase in melanoma at the moment." | "I think that this could be one of the reasons that there is an increase in melanoma at the moment." |
| Data from North West Cancer Research showed people in the north-west of England were 13% more likely to develop skin cancer than those in the rest of the country. | Data from North West Cancer Research showed people in the north-west of England were 13% more likely to develop skin cancer than those in the rest of the country. |
| Alastair Richards said the desire for a tan can lead to people using cosmetic products excessively | Alastair Richards said the desire for a tan can lead to people using cosmetic products excessively |
| Chief executive Alastair Richards said the desire for "that tanned look" can often lead people to resort to the excessive use of sunbeds and products like nasal tanners. | Chief executive Alastair Richards said the desire for "that tanned look" can often lead people to resort to the excessive use of sunbeds and products like nasal tanners. |
| He said the true effects of using such products might not be clear for years and could pose an increasing risk of cancer, including among younger people. | He said the true effects of using such products might not be clear for years and could pose an increasing risk of cancer, including among younger people. |
| "Many of these products are aimed at young people, especially through social media," he said. | "Many of these products are aimed at young people, especially through social media," he said. |
| "The real danger is that while they might not experience harmful effects now, in the long run they'll be increasing their risk of skin cancer." | "The real danger is that while they might not experience harmful effects now, in the long run they'll be increasing their risk of skin cancer." |
| None of the stores the BBC visited responded to our requests for comment | None of the stores the BBC visited responded to our requests for comment |
| As nasal tanners are not a medicinal product they do not have to be authorised, approved or registered by the MHRA before being sold. | As nasal tanners are not a medicinal product they do not have to be authorised, approved or registered by the MHRA before being sold. |
| The government's Department for Business and Trade said: "Nasal tanning sprays are not covered by UK cosmetic regulations and must therefore comply with the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. | The government's Department for Business and Trade said: "Nasal tanning sprays are not covered by UK cosmetic regulations and must therefore comply with the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. |
| "This means that anyone selling this product, including online, must ensure they are safe before placing them on the market." | "This means that anyone selling this product, including online, must ensure they are safe before placing them on the market." |
| BBC News asked all the stores visited by reporters what steps they had taken to ensure their products met these regulation requirements. | BBC News asked all the stores visited by reporters what steps they had taken to ensure their products met these regulation requirements. |
| None of them have responded. | None of them have responded. |
| Additional reporting by Colette Howe and Jessica Ure | Additional reporting by Colette Howe and Jessica Ure |
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