Is melanotan II (afamelanotide) safe to use for skin darkening? 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 There has been a worrying increase in the number of young people using sunbeds. Some people are also using nasal sprays and injections with melanotan II in to boost their tan. This isn't Young people targeted online by sellers of 'dangerous and illegal' tanning products, HPRA warns Irish Independent Melanotan injections are sold illegally and possibly unsafe Cancer Research UK Cancer News What are the recent findings on the safety and efficacy of melanotan for therapeutic and cosmetic use?