Neither Melanotan 1 nor Melanotan 2 is FDA-approved, and they’re illegal in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the U.K. due to serious safety concerns.Â
In a 2012 report by Australia’s health department, the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) said it had abandoned investigations into regulating Melanotan for treating erectile dysfunction due to "side effects associated with the immune and cardiovascular systems.” Those same side effects may be evident in any use of the injectable.
According to Dr. Lorrie Klein, a dermatologic surgeon in Laguna Niguel, California, “There have been no long-term clinical trials, and the side effects of this chemical are unknown. Reactions to the drug vary from person to person, ranging from acute allergic reactions to dizziness, sickness, and acne. Since it’s available only on the internet, probably from sources outside the U.S., there’s no way of knowing what is actually in the bottle or how it will react with other medicines. I would not recommend injecting this into your body.”
It’s also important to note that tanning injections have been associated with the growth and darkening of moles in some patients, which Dr. Klein says “could be dangerous.”
This risk is confirmed by the same Australian report, which states that the tanning agent had been "associated with a change in size and pigmentation of preexisting moles.”
