Science & Technology, Australia (Commonwealth Union) – A promotion of Melanotan-II online and on social media platforms as a speedy way of obtaining a tan has sparked concern from authorities in Australia.
In spite Melanotan-II being banned in Australia, purchasing the drug from websites where you can buy Melanotan-II in the form of a nasal spray or injectable vial, with home delivery has been quite easy for many.
Often referred to as the ‘Barbie drug’, Melanotan-II and claims of a rapid tan minus the long hours in the sun, together with other effects including weight loss, has led to Melanotan-II being an attractive option online.
Medical experts from The University of New South Wales (UNSW), have warned however that Melanotan-II is far from harmless and could have dangerous side effects that may even lead to melanoma.
Melanotan-II is a synthetic version of α-Melanocyte-stimulating-hormone (α-MSH), which has its action when formed in the pituitary gland and is naturally present in our bodies. The α-MSH acts on specialized skin cells responsible for the formation of the pigment.
The drug makes its way around the regulation of pigment cells in the body, by tricking the body to tan itself.
“In our skin, we have pigment cells and we have hormones that regulate the activity of those pigment cells. So what Melanotan-II does is mimic the action of those hormones and upregulate the activity of our pigment cells,” explained Associate Professor Deshan Sebaratnam, a dermatologist at Liverpool Hospital and Conjoint Associate Professor at UNSW Medicine & Health who further indicated that it will mean that our pigment cells synthesize increased melanin, which give us our tan.
The injection or application as a nasal spray, that has Melanotan-II can lead to major skin darkening in a few days. The drug can further suppress appetite and lead to weight loss, which is also sort after by its users.
Melanoma and safety concerns have been a primary factor in relation to Melanotan-II since it was 1st created at the University of Arizona in the 1990s. The most significant concern was the possibility of the drug to induce melanoma, the most fatal form of skin cancer.
“You’re stimulating pigment cells with Melanotan-II. If you do that enough, you can cause abnormal proliferation of the cells,” added Dr John Frew another dermatologist at Liverpool Hospital and Conjoint Senior Lecturer at UNSW Medicine & Health, who further stated that this can set in motion the progress leading to melanoma.
Prior case reports have indicated that some Melanotan-II users form skin-based complications, such as melanoma, but the evidence is still limited.
“Case reports have described melanomas emerging from existing moles either during or shortly after the use of Melanotan-II,” said Professor Bernard Stewart from UNSW Medicine & Health, a world recognized expert in environmental carcinogenesis. “However, evidence for causal associations is lacking… Definitive proof is yet to be established.”
Other lesser-known concerns on Melanotan-II are neurological effects, together with its effects on pigment cells in the skin, the drug could also attach itself to receptors in the brain and impact appetite and sexual function.
Dr Frew also indicated that a few unusual were reported in regards to Melanotan-II which were primarily nausea, vomiting and facial flushing along with reports of priapism and yawning.
Melanotan-II has not received approval in Australia from the Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA), where a TGA spokesperson had indicated that the development of the drug as a potential medicine, was stopped as a result of concerns surrounding safety.
In spite these warnings, from the TGA the purchase of Melanotan-II continues in Australia for tanning. The promotion and endorsements on the internet and on social media has been blamed for their demand in the country.
