Warnings over 'injectable tan' product

People seeking a glow this winter should avoid an "injectable tan" being sold illegally, regulators warned today.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued a notice over an unlicensed product called Melanotan.

It is being advertised and sold illegally on the internet and in some tanning salons and body building gyms.

Melanotan has not been tested for safety, quality or effectiveness and its side-effects are unknown, the MHRA said.

It also warned of serious safety issues around the use of needles to inject the substance.

The tanning product is being offered as Melanotan I and Melanotan II, which is designed to increase the body's levels of melanin.

Melanin is a natural substance in the body which gives the skin its colour and is also produced to offer protection against the sun.

David Carter, head of the MHRA's medicines borderline section, said the agency had contacted 18 different companies so far about advertising Melanotan.

"We are warning people not to use this product," he added.

"Don't be fooled into thinking that Melanotan offers a shortcut to a safer and more even tan.

"The safety of these products is unknown and they are unlicensed in the UK. The side effects could be extremely serious.

"If you have used either of these products do not use them again and if you have any concerns you should seek advice from your doctor."

Melanotan has to be diluted with bacteriostatic water (a prescription-only medicine) before it can be then self-injected into the skin, according to the MHRA.

Often the product is in its concentrate state. However, the MHRA has seen some websites offering to reconstitute the product prior to sending it to the consumer.

In the UK, there are licensed water products for the injection of medicine, including bacteriostatic water.