'Barbie drug' nasal spray tan plugged by influencers causes cancer, doctors warn

Melanotan hype: A typical before-and-after type picture used to promote the drug despite the fact that it does not work as promised, carries significant health risks, and selling it is a criminal offence.

A dangerous nasal spray containing 'Barbie drug' melanotan used to tan the skin is being sold openly on websites, online marketplaces, and through social media, in some cases claiming to protect against skin cancer.

But melanotan — a synthetic hormone-like drug which increases melanin production in skin cells to deepen skin pigment — has actually been linked to increased risk of skin cancer and other side effects including kidney failure. It was deemed too dangerous by Irish and international regulatory bodies to licence and is an illegal substance.