People go to all sorts of lengths to maintain a year-round glow, but one man has taken his pursuit of a deep tan to a whole new level.

The unnamed Reddit user claims he has spent nearly two decades using Melanotan II, an unregulated substance often referred to as the "Barbie drug", in an effort to achieve the darkest tan possible.

His dramatic before-and-after photos, shared online, have left social media users stunned, showing a striking transformation that he says was achieved after years of sticking to a strict routine.

Reddit user details 17 years of Melanotan II use

In a series of Reddit posts, the man, who posted under the username Melanotan2, opened up about his experience with Melanotan II.

The synthetic hormone-like peptide is designed to stimulate the body's production of melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color.

According to Cancer Research UK, it "stimulates the pigment cells in your skin to produce more melanin, and this makes the skin look darker". The charity also warns that these products are "not safe to use", while the sale and supply of Melanotan II is illegal in the UK.

The Reddit user claimed he had been taking the substance for "roughly 17 years" and explained that he would "always do a loading phase" before spending time in the sun.

According to him, the product takes around two weeks before noticeable results begin to appear and does not offer any protection against sunburn.

"It doesn't do anything to protect you [from the sun], what it does is trigger your body to make more melanin," he wrote in one thread.

"So be careful with sun exposure in the beginning. It will take around two weeks before you can take ANY sun."

He also urged people to monitor their moles closely, warning that changes in size or shape could become harder to spot against darker skin or freckles.

The unusual side effects he experienced

The man said he had noticed several side effects during his years of use, including a "decreased appetite".

He also revealed what he described as a particularly unusual reaction to the injections.

"The most strange thing is that it feels really good to stretch, like when you first wake up," he wrote. "I get that every time I dose, about 1hr 30 after injection."

Despite criticism from some online users, he insisted he was pleased with the outcome, claiming his results had been "amazing" and that he was "awfully close" to reaching his desired level of tan.

Why experts are warning people to stay away

Health experts have repeatedly raised concerns about Melanotan II and the risks associated with using it.

Dr Donald Grant, GP and Senior Clinical Advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, warned: "There are plenty of risks associated with Melanotan II, which is why it currently remains an unauthorised and unapproved product for general use in the UK and America.

"Unlike regulated medicines, these products have not been properly tested for safety, quality or effectiveness, and people often don’t know exactly what they are putting into their bodies.

"Like other tanning methods, this product carries a risk of skin cancer, as it can darken pre-existing moles or cause new ones to appear.

"People who do take this synthetic peptide often report moderate to severe side effects, ranging from nausea to kidney or muscle damage."

Plastic surgeon Dr Terry Dubrow also issued a stark warning while discussing the product with Women's Wear Daily.

"It’s neither safe nor has it progressed beyond purely experimental. It’s unlicensed, unregulated and basically illegal."

A study published by the British Journal of Dermatology found commonly reported side effects included nausea, reversible darkening of moles and an increase in libido or erections.

The study also highlighted two more serious potential complications: dysplastic naevi, which are unusual but non-cancerous moles, and renal infarction, a medical emergency caused by interrupted blood flow to the kidneys.

Other side effects listed by WebMD include uneven skin tone, facial flushing, headaches, reduced appetite, painful prolonged erections and melanoma.

Featured image credit: mrs / Getty

A dermatologist has issued a stark warning about Melanotan II, a tanning drug that remains illegal to sell in the UK, after highlighting a side effect that can leave skin experts seriously worried.

Promoted by some users as a shortcut to achieving a darker complexion, Melanotan II is available as either a nasal spray or an injection. The synthetic peptide works by stimulating pigment-producing cells in the skin, causing it to appear darker over time.

Its popularity appears to be growing despite safety concerns. Data from Melanoma Focus revealed that 15 percent of people in Wales reported using illegal injections or nasal sprays to intensify their tans.

While Melanotan II was recently removed from the FDA's restrictive Category 2 list, it is still not approved by the FDA in the United States and remains unlicensed, unregulated and illegal in the UK.

Reddit user shared dramatic transformation

One Reddit user recently attracted attention after posting before-and-after photos showing the effects of taking Melanotan II over several years.

The anonymous user explained that the drug does not provide protection from the sun despite helping the body produce more pigment.

"It doesn't do anything to protect you [from the sun], what it does is trigger your body to make more melanin.

"So be careful with sun exposure in the beginning. It will take around two weeks before you can take ANY sun."

The images showed a significant darkening of the user's skin tone following prolonged use of the synthetic peptide.

Dermatologist highlights melanoma concerns

Dermatologist and content creator Dr Dustin Portela has warned that Melanotan II may cause existing moles and freckles to darken, which can make monitoring skin changes more difficult.

He said: "If you have existing moles or freckles, they will get darker. And there are case reports of people developing melanoma while taking melanotan.

"I'm not encouraging its use, if you're doing it, it's at your own risk, but get checked by a dermatologist.

"Peptides are definitely not for everybody, and remember, this is not FDA-approved for any indication. Most people are buying it from unregulated websites where the product is being made in a foreign country, and you can't guarantee the safety or purity of the product."

According to Dr Portela, dermatologists become particularly concerned when new moles begin appearing across the body. He explained that this can happen when melanocytes become more active, which may increase the risk of melanoma.

Reported side effects range from mild to severe

Research published in the British Journal of Dermatology examined 28 people aged between 18 and 64 who had used Melanotan II and found several commonly reported side effects.

These included nausea, reversible darkening of moles and an increase in libido or erections.

The study also identified two more serious potential complications: dysplastic naevi, which are unusual-looking but non-cancerous moles, and renal infarction, a medical emergency caused by an interruption of blood flow to the kidneys.

Additional side effects listed by WebMD include uneven skin tone, facial redness or flushing, headaches, reduced appetite, painful prolonged erections that can permanently damage the penis, and melanoma, a form of skin cancer.

With experts continuing to raise concerns about the drug's safety, dermatologists advise caution, particularly given that many users obtain Melanotan II from unregulated sources where product quality and purity cannot be verified.

Featured image credit: mrs / Getty

It has been revealed that new unregulated tanning products can have a hard-hitting effect on men’s members.

Doctors and dermatologists have released an urgent warning that taking Melanotan II, a product that helps users tan rapidly, can result in, among other dangerous side effects, not being able to shift an erection for up to 30 hours.

One arguably unlucky user reported that he ended up with priapism, a long-lasting and painful erection after taking the synthetic hormone-like peptide. The condition can result in permanent damage if left untreated.

Usually, priapism impacts people with sickle cell disease, but tampered medications or illegal substances can also trigger the condition.

Unwavering erections may need to be treated by surgery. Credit: ericsphotography/Getty Images

How does Melanotan II work?

Charity Cancer Research UK explained how Melanotan II works in a statement that reads: "It stimulates the pigment cells in your skin to produce more melanin, and this makes the skin look darker.

"Melanotan nasal sprays and injections are not safe to use. Melanotan products have not been tested for safety, quality or effectiveness. So it is not known if using them causes side effects and how serious they are."

According to a case study published in the journal Sexual Medicine in January 2021, alongside “generating a sunless tan through melanocyte induction”, the tanning drug can “also be used as a sexual stimulant”.

The study’s authors, a group of doctors in Miami, also revealed that Melanotan II "has been investigated as a possible treatment agent in erectile dysfunction".

One man needed surgery on penis after taking the drug

The 55-year-old patient at the centre of the case study allegedly arrived at the ER with a “painful, sustained penile erection” that had been ongoing for 30 hours when he arrived.

While he was being assessed, he told medical staff that he had been injecting the drug to darken his skin for over six years and, immediately after it entered his system, he would experience a hard-on that “lasted a few minutes”.

The report explained that the man’s erection began to “visibly decrease” after they treated him, but would shoot back up “within a couple of minutes".

Nobody wants to lose their penis. Credit: SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty

In the end, surgical intervention was required to get rid of the man’s erection, but 15 weeks later at a follow-up appointment, “he reported a degree of new onset erectile dysfunction”.

While another case study also discussed how Melanotan II caused “clinically apparent erections” in 8 out of 10 men with erectile dysfunction, it is certainly not recommended as a quick fix, as it could leave you standing to attention for far longer than required.

Even the thought of treatment for unshakable erections could be enough to lose your libido permanently, as doctors have to drain blood from the penis - either with needles or by making a small cut.

So, no matter how badly you want to look bronzed for the beach, perhaps think twice before injecting Melanotan II, or you could permanently lose your ability to get a bonk on.

Featured image credit: Credit: JW LTD/Getty Images

A woman who hails from Belfast in Northern Ireland claims that snorting spray tan via a nasal spray has given her skin a luxurious golden-brown glow.

Jamie McBride, a 28-year-old single mom, has been a sunbed addict since her teenage years, and has spent most of her adult life trying to stay bronzed. She's even resorted to tanning injections, which are currently illegal and unlicensed in the UK, using synthetic hormones to stimulate pigment cells to make more melanin.

But for Jamie, even that just wasn't enough. So now she's taken to using a very unusual tanning method. Namely, using a special nasal spray designed to deepen tans. Despite the fact that this method is also banned and unlicensed in Great Britain, Jamie insists that she hasn't suffered any ill consequences, and is now a die-hard advocate for it.

Commenting on her unusual tanning method in a recent interview, Jamie stated: "I first found out about nasal tanners when a few friends tried them. They recommended them, since they know I don’t like needles and would never inject myself. Like using anything you don’t know much about, putting it into my body does worry me, but everyone else I know who has used them has been okay, so I’ll be fine."

Meet the couple who are addicted to tanning injections:

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She added: "I feel more beautiful and glowing with a tan, but I hate false tan, the smell of it, and how patchy it goes. With a nice tan, you always feel better – I think everyone can agree on that ... They come in a small bottle with a nasal spray top. I keep them in the fridge and take one spray up each nostril once a day for a few days to let it build up in my system. Then, if I’m having sunbeds too, I’ll up it to two sprays a day – once in the morning, and once before bed."

Jamie continued: "In this day and age, everyone has, at some point, used a sunbed or tried a spray or injection, just to see what all the fuss is about. If anybody did try to criticise me, I wouldn’t listen anyway, because at the end of the day, it’s my body ... As with everything, there is always a risk, so if you feel it isn’t right, then fine – don’t do it. But don’t judge others for wanting a tan to feel better about themselves. Everyone has their own opinion, and this is mine."

Check out Martina Big talking about her tanning and cosmetic surgery addiction:

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However, Jamie's method of tanning is hardly the most extreme out there. Meet Martina Big - a fetish model and self-described transracialist, who has been giving herself injections in an effort to 'become black'.

Most people love having a tan - and why wouldn't they? When I've got a tan, I look healthier, more defined, and in better shape. It's generally considered more acceptable to look like you've been out and about topping up your vitamin D rather than slumming your summer away in your parent's basement. However, as Jersey Shore has taught us, tans can go way too far.

Many of us will be fully aware of the health risks that come with the different methods of tanning. One study states that using sunbeds can increase the risk of skin cancer by 16% - 20%, Cancer Research UK reports. And even walking around unprotected in the summer sun carries its risks - with many health bodies reminding us to "slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, and slap on a hat."

Regardless of the warnings, every summer we see people flock to the beach in order to top up their tan. But now, one UK-based student has come under fire for tanning to such an extreme degree that many people have accused her of attempting to "blackface".

This is the interview that left viewers accusing the 22-year-old of racism:

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Hannah Tittensor, 22, a beauty therapy student from Belfast, Northern Ireland, revealed she has been using under-the-counter tanning injections called Melanotan, along with prolonged exposure under sunlight or sunbeds.

Hannah was joined by her partner Ben Dunlop, 23, who also uses the injections and has been using sunbeds since he was 15 years old.

However, when Hannah was asked about the online reaction to her striking look, she revealed she has received comments suggesting she should take her own life. "I get really shallow things like, I would be better off killing myself", she told hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.

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Willoughby then asked Hannah about when or if she plans to stop using the injections, to which the student replied: "Possibly soon. Possibly soon."

Some viewers' took to Twitter to question the mental health of Hannah and Ben, arguing that their need to tan is an addiction that needs to be dealt with first.

However, others were much less sympathetic, and said that the couple's desire to darken their skin to such a degree is "racist" and "blackfishing" (that is; a caucasian person's desire to look black):

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The UK's National Health Service state on their official website: "Anyone currently using Melanotan should stop doing so immediately for their own safety. The drug has not been safety tested by the UK medicines safety agency. Users are advised to consult their GP for advice."