Nasal tanning sprays linked to skin cancer, trading standards officers warn Consumer affairs The Guardian Your body already makes a hormone that tells your skin to tan. Melanotan 2 is a synthetic peptide engineered to mimic that hormone but in a version that's more potent and Viral 'Barbie drug' for tanning can cause brain swelling and even cancer, experts warn You Should Avoid Using Nasal Tanning Sprays