Tanning Injections and Nasal Sprays: The Risks of Melanotan

What is melanotan, and why is it called a 'tanning injection'?

Melanotan I and melanotan II are laboratory-made analogues of a hormone that regulates skin colour in the body (alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, alpha-MSH for short). By stimulating the cells that give the skin its colour (melanocytes), they cause the skin to darken even without going out in the sun. They are sold online and on social media as 'tanning injections', 'tan jabs', drops or nasal sprays, often as a powder in vials to be mixed with water.

Melanotan II affects not only skin colour but also other targets in the brain. It can therefore cause spontaneous erections and sexual arousal; it is also marketed online for this purpose. The form of melanotan I developed and regulated as a medicine is called afamelanotide; this medicine is licensed only for use in a limited number of medical conditions under specialist supervision and is not given for tanning. The 'melanotan' products sold online are not this licensed medicine.

The short answer: injections, drops and nasal sprays containing melanotan are not medicines approved for tanning. There are no data showing how safe they are; the reported side effects are based on case reports and small studies. So the question 'how risky are they?' cannot be answered with a precise figure; the unknown is itself a risk.

Why is it impossible to know what is in a product bought online?

For a licensed medicine, the contents, purity and sterile manufacture are checked. Melanotan products, however, come from unregulated sources. When melanotan II vials bought from three different online sellers were examined in the laboratory, the measured amount ranged from less than half to about nine-tenths of what the label stated, even though every seller said the vial contained 10 mg. Vials from two of the sellers also contained foreign substances that could not be identified.

This study did not measure whether the products contained germs; however, no one can guarantee that a product made without regulation is sterile. The Irish medicines authority also emphasises that there is no assurance whatsoever about the quality, safety and effectiveness of these products.

• The amount is uncertain: the number on the label does not show the amount that actually enters the body.
• The contents are uncertain: the vial may contain other substances, or no melanotan at all.
• Sterility is uncertain: mixing the powder with water at home and injecting it are steps open to contamination with germs; sharing needles or vials increases the risk of infections transmitted through the blood.
• If a problem arises, diagnosis and treatment can become harder because it is not fully known what you used.

For the general risks and warning signs of products of unknown origin, see our article “Counterfeit Products and Unlicensed Treatments”, and for signs of inflammation at the injection site, see our article “Infection after Aesthetic Treatments”.

Why is there no 'melanotan 2 dose' on this page?

Although dosing is one of the most frequently searched topics, we do not give doses, frequency of use or 'course' information for any melanotan product on this page. The reason is not that we are withholding information, but that safe dosing information does not exist:

• Because no medicines authority has approved melanotan for tanning, there is no tested and accepted dose.
• Because the real amount in the vial can differ from the label, even a written number does not tell you what you are injecting.
• The 'starting dose' charts circulating online come from unregulated sources. In a case reported in the USA, a person who, by their own account, injected six times the recommended 'starting' amount was monitored in intensive care because of a marked increase in heart rate, muscle breakdown and impaired kidney function.
• It is not possible to predict in advance what the effects and side effects will be in two people using the same product.

Reported side effects and the type of evidence

Most of what is known about the side effects of melanotan comes from case reports, users’ own accounts and old studies with a small number of volunteers. This type of evidence does not show how often a side effect occurs; it only shows that it can occur. The UK medicines authority received 16 reports of suspected side effects related to melanotan II between 2012 and 2022; the authority also states that the reports are not proof of causation and that side effects are under-reported.

Moles and melanoma: what does the evidence say, and what does it not say?

Melanotan directly stimulates the pigment cells in the skin. This is why moles are what dermatologists pay most attention to. Published cases report many new moles appearing within a short time during use, existing moles darkening and some showing irregular features under the microscope. A review from 2017 describes four cases of melanoma developing from existing moles during or shortly after use. In 2025, melanoma inside the mouth (on the gum of the upper jaw) was reported in the United Kingdom in a young woman who had used melanotan II nasal spray for tanning.

These cases do not prove that melanotan causes melanoma. Some users are known to also use sunbeds or sunbathe heavily; melanoma may in any case be more common in these people, and case reports cannot separate these factors. On the other hand, this picture is a warning signal: the concern that a substance of untested safety that stimulates pigment cells could speed up mole changes, especially in people with many moles or a predisposition to melanoma, is stated openly in scientific publications.

Which mole changes should be shown to a physician (the ABCDE criteria and the 'ugly duckling' sign) is described in detail in our article “Moles, Skin Tags and Spots”; we do not repeat it here.

Does a tan from melanotan protect against the sun?

No, this cannot be relied on. The UK National Health Service (NHS) states that a tan does not protect the skin from the harmful effects of the sun and that there is no healthy way to tan. In 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also sent a warning letter to a company selling melanotan II with the claim that it protected against skin cancer and advised consumers to stop using the product.

To be honest, in a small clinical study in 2004 with pharmaceutical-grade melanotan I, fewer sunburned cells were observed in tanned skin. However, this finding comes from a group of four people, cannot be transferred to products sold online or to melanotan II, and does not show that this tan replaces sunscreen, shade or clothing. The same study also showed that melanotan increased tanning together with sunlight; this may encourage users to sunbathe more.

For effective ways of protecting yourself from the sun, see our article “Sunscreen Guide”.

Is a nasal spray or drops safer than an injection?

No. A nasal spray, drops and an injection bring the same substance into the body by different routes; not using a needle may reduce the risk of infection, but it does not remove the effects of the substance itself. According to the Irish medicines authority, these inhaled or injected products cannot be considered cosmetic products, because they act inside the body.

In the United Kingdom, one detail can be confusing: the medicines authority has stated that it considers injections and pens containing melanotan II to be medicines, but classifies nasal sprays as medicines only if they are sold with a claim to treat or prevent disease. This is a matter of classification; it does not mean that the spray is safe. The case in which melanoma inside the mouth was reported was also a person using a nasal spray.

The legal situation by country

The table below reports only what is clearly stated in official sources. Legislation can change; this table is not legal advice.

Who should be especially careful?

No group has been identified that can use melanotan safely. In the following situations, the unknown risks can have more serious consequences:

• People with many moles or irregular-looking moles; people who have had melanoma before or have melanoma in the family.
• People with fair skin who burn easily, have often had sunburn or use sunbeds.
• Under-18s: the Irish medicines authority warns that these products are increasingly being targeted at young people with colourful packaging and flavours. For general principles on medical aesthetics for young people, see our article “Medical Aesthetics for Young People”.
• People who are pregnant or breastfeeding: there are no data at all on safety during this period.
• People with heart disease, high blood pressure or kidney disease: the reported palpitations, raised blood pressure and kidney problems may be more dangerous in these people.
• People who take medicines regularly: whether a product of unknown composition will interact with your medicines cannot be predicted.

What should you do if you have used it?

If you have used melanotan in the past and have no complaints now, there is no need to panic; however, some steps are important:

1. Stop using the product. This is the first recommendation of the Irish and UK medicines authorities to users.
2. Show your moles to a physician, preferably a dermatologist. At the examination, say clearly that you have used melanotan, when and for how long, and describe your sunbed and sunbathing habits; this information changes the physician’s assessment.
3. Keep any remaining product, its box or the purchase information; if there is a problem, it helps to identify what you used.
4. Note any moles that appeared or changed during or after use, or photograph them in the same light; also check for new dark patches inside the mouth and nose.
5. If you have had side effects, tell your physician; in Turkey, you can report side effects through TÜFAM.
6. If you have shared the product with others or needles were shared, tell your physician; they will decide whether tests for infections transmitted through the blood are needed.

For the signs of an allergic reaction and the first steps, see our article “Allergic Reactions in Aesthetic Treatments”. When going to the emergency department, take the vial or box of the product you used with you.

If you want a tanned look

Wanting a tanned look is understandable; however, every tan obtained in the sun, on a sunbed or with a substance that acts from inside the body comes at a cost. Self-tanning lotions and sprays applied to the skin (most of which have dihydroxyacetone as the active ingredient) create colour on the surface of the skin and are not designed to act inside the body; even so, they are not entirely without problems, and the colour they produce does not replace sunscreen. You can discuss with a physician which method suits your skin, especially if you have many moles or a history of skin cancer.

Limits of the evidence: there is no controlled safety study of the forms of melanotan I and II sold online. The side effect information on this page is based on case reports, old studies with a few volunteers, reviews and statements by regulatory bodies. So it cannot be said how often a side effect occurs or what the risk specific to you is. This page is for general information and does not replace an examination.