LONDON, Aug 31 — A rise in the use of tanning injections, known as “jabba-tan,” and nose sprays containing Melanotan has sparked fresh warnings about their hazards.

Yesterday the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announced that the agency has received 18 reports detailing 74 separate reactions which are suspected to be side effects, such as stomach and heart problems, linked to the use of Melanotan. The agency has closed down 72 websites offering to supply Melanotan to UK customers within the last three months and continues to monitor websites selling the products.

Products called Melanotan I, Melanotan II and Ubertan work by increasing the levels of melanin, which is the body’s natural protection from the sun and results in tanned skin.

Despite being offered to people in gyms and beauty and tanning salons, and being sold through the Internet, experts warn that these products carry health risks, are often unregulated and imported illegally into some countries, and may cause possible unknown side effects.

“People should not be fooled that this is a shortcut to getting a tan safely,” said MHRA’s senior policy advisor for enforcement Lynda Scammell said. “They have the potential to cause serious side-effects, as the effects on the body to individual users is unknown.” — AFP/Relaxnews