Tanning peptides like melanotan are trending online, but they're not approved, not regulated, and illegal to advertise in Australia. When products haven't been properly tested, there's no way to know what's actually What is Melanotan II, the drug that consumers are urged to avoid? 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 longer lasting than Viral 'Barbie drug' for tanning can cause brain swelling and even cancer, experts warn Tanning peptides like melanotan are trending online, but theyre not approved, not regulated, and illegal to advertise in Australia. When products havent been properly tested, theres no way to know Rise in use of 'dangerous' tanning injection Channel 4 News