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 Health warning over banned tanning drug The Canberra Times Canberra, ACT No, you don't need the 'Barbie drug' to tan, whatever TikTok says. Here's why melanotan II is so risky What are 'melanotan' injections? Explaining the controversial tanning drug Dazed A Current Affair: Tanning 'Barbie drug' a danger to users, experts say Melanotan II: Tanning injections, nasal sprays harmful to health