A glimpse into the underground market of melanotan.
Callaghan Iii. Daniel J DJ
Key Findings
- Main motivation for use is achieving a tan rather than performance or health benefits
- Most users obtain melanotan through illicit online vendors with relative ease
- Users express mixed feelings about safety but many intend to keep using the peptide
Practical Outcomes
- The findings confirm that melanotan is widely accessed in the biohacker community for cosmetic purposes, highlighting the need for caution about unregulated sources and potential side effects. Enthusiasts should weigh the ease of acquisition against unknown safety risks and consider monitoring for adverse reactions if they choose to use it.
Summary
The study surveyed people on an online forum who use melanotan‑I or II to get a tan, asking why they use it, how they get it, and if they’ll keep using it. It shows most users are motivated by cosmetic tanning, find the drugs easy to buy online, have some safety concerns, and many plan to continue despite the lack of regulation.
Abstract
Melanotan-I and melanotan-II are alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (a-MSH) analogues that can be purchased illicitly online with relative ease and are injected subcutaneously to stimulate a tan. Little is known about the use of these unregulated substances. An observational survey was posted to an online forum in which participants share their experiences using melanotan-I or melanotan-II. Users were asked to complete this voluntary, anonymous survey, which had questions focusing on motivation and hesitation for and against using melanotan, difficulty in acquiring it, and plans for continuing to use melanotan in the future.
Study Information
pubmed
2018
2018-05-15T00:00:00.000Z