Dermatologist explains what happens to your body after you take Melanotan II

We're living in a society where people are desperate to make changes to the way they look, even if it means putting your body at risk.

The growth of GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro are perhaps the strongest evidence for people taking drugs as an easier way of losing weight, and simply putting up with the various side effects that it can cause.

In that case, it can of course help to make a person healthier and lower the risk of illnesses such as heart disease, with the NHS even prescribing Wegovy to patients who meet certain regulations.

However, Melanotan II appears to be a purely aesthetic drug which is now growing in popularity, as it helps people develop a dark tan without the need of sitting in the sun all day.

Although it provides for our planet, the sun can do dangerous things to our skin unless we protect it properly, and the same can sadly be said of Melanotan II.

How the Reddit user looked before his Melanotan use (Reddit/n3glv)

The drug was recently taken off the FDA's restrictive Category 2 list, but it is still not FDA approved in the US, while it remains unlicensed, unregulated and illegal in the UK.

But that hasn't stopped some folks from getting their hands on it, with one Reddit user showing off his drastic results after years of taking the synthetic peptide.

The anonymous man from Reddit wrote: "It doesn't do anything to protect you [from the sun], what it does is trigger your body to make more melanin," he wrote in one thread. "So be careful with sun exposure in the beginning. It will take around two weeks before you can take ANY sun."

Now, dermatologist and content creator Dr Dustin Portela has highlighted some of the other risks associated with Melanotan II, which can be triggered very soon after taking it.

He says: "If you have existing moles or freckles, they will get darker. And there are case reports of people developing melanoma while taking melanotan. I'm not encouraging its use, if you're doing it, it's at your own risk but get checked by a dermatologist.

"Peptides are not for everybody and remember, this is not FDA-approved for any indication and most people are buying it from unregulated websites where the product is being made in a foreign country and you can't guarantee the safety or purity of the product."

The dermatologist adds that he and other skincare experts will become 'super concerned' when moles begin to pop up all over the body, since this is when 'melanocytes become more active', something the doctor clarifies can increase the risk of melanoma.

So, much like tanning beds, this is one you should probably avoid if you want to look after your skin, with some sunlight and Factor 50, or even a few carrots, perhaps the best way to earn a more natural tan.

Melanotan II side effects

A study of 28 people aged 18 to 64 by the British Journal of Dermatology details some of the side effects they commonly experienced. These included:

• nausea
• reversible darkening of moles
• an increase in libido or erections

The study also noted two much more serious potential side effects associated with Melanotan II.

These were dysplastic naevi, which is an odd-looking, often large mole that is thankfully non-cancerous.

And renal infarction, which is the interruption of normal blood flow to the kidneys. That's a medical emergency which requires urgent hospital treatment.

Other side effects listed on WebMD include:

• uneven skin tone
• facial redness or flushing
• headaches
• reduced appetite
• painful, prolonged erections, which can permanently damage the penis
• melanoma (skin cancer)