MHRA warns of ‘potentially dangerous’ fake tan nasal spray
Contains unlicensed Melanotan II
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is warning that a fake tan nasal spray product being sold across the UK is potentially dangerous. Marketed as Ubertan, the MHRA says the product is being advertised and sold illegally in gyms, beauty salons and online.
The MHRA says it has conducted tests on a sample of Ubertan and found it to contain Melanotan II, an unlicensed medicine with no evidence of safety, quality or efficacy and unknown side effects. Another version of Ubertan tested as part of an ongoing investigation was found to contain herbal extract forskolin. The MHRA ways there are no licensed or registered medicines in the UK that contain forskolin or melanotan.
“Putting your health on the line just in order to get a tan is just really not worth the risk,” commented David Carter, MHRA head of the medicines borderline section. “None of these products have been clinically tested and as a result there is no way of knowing just how serious the side effects could be, or the impact on your health.”
The MHRA has written to retailers and websites instructing them to stop marketing the product and to cancel all advertising and promotions including on the internet and social websites.