No, you don’t need a “Barbie drug” to get a tan, no matter what TikTok says. Here’s why melanotan-II is so risky

TikTok and Instagram influencers are selling a ‘Barbie drug’ that will facilitate you tan.

But melanotan-IIas it is officially called, this solution is too good to be true. Like tanning, this unapproved drug has a gloomy side.

Doctors, researchers and Australian Drugs Regulatory Authority they warned about its side effects – from nausea and vomiting to brain swelling and erection problems.

If that’s your thing, there are also safer ways to get a tan.

What is melanotan-II?

No, that’s not a typo. Melanotan-II is very different from melatonin, which is a hormone supplement used for insomnia and jet lag.

Melanotan-II is synthetic version a naturally occurring hormone that stimulates α-melanocytes. This means that the drug mimics the body’s hormone that stimulates the production of the pigment melanin. This is what causes skin to darken or tan, even in people with little melanin.

Although the drug is advertised as a way to get a “sunless tan”, it is usually promoted as a means to exploit With Exposure to UV radiation, up to enhance the effects of UV rays and start the tanning process.

Melanotan-II is related to, but different from: melanotan-I (afamelanotide)approved medicine for the treatment of skin diseases erythropoietic protoporphyria.

Melanotan-II is not registered for exploit with the Australian Therapeutic Goods Agency (TGA). It is illegal to advertise this medicine publicly or to sell it without a prescription.

However, social media is fueling this situation unlicensed sale of melanotan IIconfirms a study published last year.

There are many suppliers of melanotan II injections, tablets and creams on the black market. Recently, nasal sprays have become more popular.

What is the risk?

Like all medicines, melanotan II carries risks side effectsmany of which we have known for over a decade. These include changes in the size and pigmentation of moles, rapid appearance of modern moles, facial flushing, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and brain swelling.

It can also cause rhabdomyolysisa unsafe syndrome that results in muscle breakdown and the release of kidney-damaging proteins into the bloodstream.

In men, the drug may cause priapism – a painful erection that does not go away and may damage the penis, requiring immediate treatment.

Its exploit was associated with melanoma developing from existing moles during or soon after taking the medicine. This is thought to be due to stimulation of pigment cells and causing abnormal cells to proliferate.

Despite reports of melanoma, according to examining social media posts the drug is often sold as protecting against skin cancer. In fact, there is no evidence that this happens.

Social media posts about melanotan-II they rarely mention health risks.

There are no studies on the long-term safety of melanotan II.

There is also the issue that the medicine does not meet the high safety standards of a TGA-approved product. This may result in dose variability, undeclared ingredients and potential microbiological contamination.

TGA has previously warned consumers should avoid this drug due to its “earnest side effects that can be very harmful to your health.”

According to an ABC article published earlier this week, the TGA does cracking regarding the illegal promotion of the drug on various websites. However, we know that banned sellers may reappear under a different name.

TikTok has been banned hashtags #tanningnasalspray, #melanotan and #melanotan2, but these products are still promoted using more general hashtags such as #tanning.

Part of a broader trend

Australia has some highest rate of skin cancer in the world. The Slip, Slop, Slap campaign is a public health success story characterized by increased awareness of sun safety, cultural change and decrease in the incidence of melanoma in young people.

However, the image of a tanned beach figure remains the standard of beauty, especially among some adolescent people.

disturbingly, tan lines are trending on TikTok as a sought-after summer accessory, with the hashtag #sunburnttanlines receiving millions of views. We also saw a reluctance among some adolescent people to exploit sunscreen, which was again promoted on TikTok.

The Cancer Council is so concerned about the trend towards normalizing tanning that it has launched a campaign End the trend.

You have other options

There are options beyond injecting an illegal, unregulated product up your nose or exposing yourself to unprotected sun exposure: fake tan.

Counterfeit tan is usually much safer than melanotan II, and there is more data on long-term safety. It also comes with potential side effects, although infrequent, including breathing problems (with spray products) and dermatitis in some people.

Moreover, you can accept your natural skin tone.