Man who spent three months injecting Melanotan II explains risky side effects he saw straight away
Melanotan II injections might be a surefire way of bronzing up your natural skin tone, but with that comes dodgy health risks.
Take Reddit guy @Important-Table-6486 for instance, who could well turn into a cautionary tale for people hoping to get that darker look through medical avenues.
In his Reddit thread posted last year, the young lad documented a three-month spell of using this synthetic hormone treatment.
Referred to as the 'Barbie drug' or 'tan jab', Melanotan II stimulates melanin production, resulting in a strong tan without the need to expose oneself to the sun's rays for hours on end.
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When @Important-Table-6486 was quizzed by somebody online about the new moles accompanying his colouration change, he revealed that they 'started coming through pretty much straight away'.
"My hair went slightly darker whilst I was in the UK, but I'm in Thailand now and with the summer sun it has gone significantly lighter!" he elaborated.
"Yes definitely an increase [in moles], but not a ridiculous amount. And I'm quite fond of the look personally."
Another commenter seemed impressed with these 'amazing' photographic results, but upon reading about the many cancer risks attached to Melanotan II, they asked the Reddit thread creator for his side of the argument.
He answered directly: "From the research I did previous to my exposure to the substance, the drug has been around since the late 80s in the form of Melanotan-1. This new MT-2 variant has been around since the 2000s.
"There are lots of studies you can read online to increase your knowledge of the drug.
"Purely from a medical and scientific standpoint, I don't believe the drug to be incredibly harmful. If anything, you are lowering your exposure to harmful UV rays, by not having to be in them as long to get a deep tan.
"From my experience it has been safe, effective and easy. Plenty of reliable results online to check into!"
Risks of Taking Melanotan II
Because Melanotan II forces all pigment cells to hyper-proliferate, it can cause moles to grow, change, or become atypical (dysplastic). Medical experts and dermatologists have raised several alarms:
- Accelerated cancer risk: There is significant concern that long-term use can stimulate dangerous changes, potentially accelerating the development of melanoma.
- Difficult diagnosis: The rapid darkening and emergence of new lesions make it incredibly difficult to spot early signs of skin cancer. This can lead to false alarms, unnecessary biopsies, or missed diagnoses.
- Unregulated product: MT2 is not a regulated medication in the UK, US, or EU. It is bought online, meaning its purity, exact ingredients, and safe dosages are completely unknown.
What You Should Do
If you have used Melanotan II and noticed new or changing moles, the official medical recommendation is to:
- Stop using the drug immediately.
- Book an appointment with a dermatologist for a full skin check-up.
- Mention to your doctor that you have been using Melanotan II, as this is vital information for their assessment.
Dan Seddon