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| Unlicensed tanning drug use rises | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A growing number of people in the UK are injecting themselves with an unlicensed tanning drug, a BBC investigation has found. | A growing number of people in the UK are injecting themselves with an unlicensed tanning drug, a BBC investigation has found. |
| Melanotan is still undergoing clinical trials but is sold illegally online and in salons and gyms, Newsbeat reports. | Melanotan is still undergoing clinical trials but is sold illegally online and in salons and gyms, Newsbeat reports. |
| It is a synthetic hormone which stimulates the body's production of melanin, a substance that gives the skin its colour. | It is a synthetic hormone which stimulates the body's production of melanin, a substance that gives the skin its colour. |
| Experts are worried that the long-term effects are not yet known. | Experts are worried that the long-term effects are not yet known. |
| The BBC investigation found needle exchanges across the UK have noted more and more people coming in to get syringes to inject the tanning drug. | The BBC investigation found needle exchanges across the UK have noted more and more people coming in to get syringes to inject the tanning drug. |
| Melanotan has been developed for the treatment of skin conditions but has not yet been licensed for human use. | Melanotan has been developed for the treatment of skin conditions but has not yet been licensed for human use. |
| 'Nice tan' | 'Nice tan' |
| It is not against the law to use the drug, and Stacey Boardman, from Rochdale, said she was willing to take the risk. | It is not against the law to use the drug, and Stacey Boardman, from Rochdale, said she was willing to take the risk. |
| It has not been tested for its effectiveness or its safety Claire Tilstone, MHRA | It has not been tested for its effectiveness or its safety Claire Tilstone, MHRA |
| "You have about 10 injections. You take an injection every day and after the 10 days you should have a nice tan," she said. | "You have about 10 injections. You take an injection every day and after the 10 days you should have a nice tan," she said. |
| "And then if you want to go darker just carry on taking it for more than 10 days. Once you've got your initial tan, then just once a week to keep that colour you're happy with." | "And then if you want to go darker just carry on taking it for more than 10 days. Once you've got your initial tan, then just once a week to keep that colour you're happy with." |
| The government's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has written to 18 websites in the past few months warning them to stop advertising the product. | The government's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has written to 18 websites in the past few months warning them to stop advertising the product. |
| Claire Tilstone, from the MHRA, said the potential dangers were two fold. | Claire Tilstone, from the MHRA, said the potential dangers were two fold. |
| "It has not been tested for its effectiveness or its safety," she said. | "It has not been tested for its effectiveness or its safety," she said. |
| "We do not know what side effects it may cause and potentially what the long-term consequences on their health may be." | "We do not know what side effects it may cause and potentially what the long-term consequences on their health may be." |
| She added there were also concerns about users injecting themselves without proper medical advice. | She added there were also concerns about users injecting themselves without proper medical advice. |
| Melanin is produced naturally by the body. Dark-skinned people have more melanin than light-skinned people. | Melanin is produced naturally by the body. Dark-skinned people have more melanin than light-skinned people. |
| It also acts as a sunscreen and protects the skin from ultraviolet light. | It also acts as a sunscreen and protects the skin from ultraviolet light. |