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 Melanoma induction by ultraviolet A but not ultraviolet B radiation requires melanin pigment Nature Communications What is melanoma? About melanoma Melanotan is not a tan. It's an unregulated peptide with real risk. As a dermatologist, here's the reality: It has been linked to new and changing moles including cases of Afamelanotide tested as a new treatment for vitiligo Vitiligo Clinic