Viral ‘Barbie drug' that can help you tan can cause brain swelling, erection problems and even cancer, experts warn
Nicknamed the 'Barbie drug,' a viral nose spray that promises to give users the perfect glow may deliver life-threatening complications.
The drug, Melanotan-II, is an unlicensed and largely untested synthetic version of the peptide α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. As the name implies, the hormone is responsible for melanin production, and devotees of the 'Barbie drug' claim it can give users a perfect tan from the inside out.
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But the promise of a bronze glow comes with a decided dark side as Melanotan-II has been linked to a slew of side effects ranging from nausea to cancer.
4 A study published last year found that TikTok has been driving unlicensed Melanotan-II sales.
TikTok / @drwhitneybowe
Sold in nasal spray form, the product is often marketed with Barbie-inspired designs, pink packaging, and stamped with a seemingly official 'Barbie' logo.
Despite the dire complications, influencers have been hawking it to their followers as a quick and easy way to tan.
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'People always want to be tan, especially during the summer,' Dr. Jennifer Levine, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, told The Post. 'The Barbie movie has also added to the 'beach' trend.'
Melanotan II is not approved by the FDA, meaning the product is not held to the agency's standards and could include variability in dose, undeclared ingredients, and potential microbial contamination.
Warnings against the use of melanotan II have been issued by the US, UK, Australia, and several other countries.
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However, those warnings have not stopped black market suppliers of Melanotan-II from producing and distributing the drug in injectable, tablet, cream, and nasal spray form.
The possibility of peril has clearly failed to discourage social media influencers, as a study published last year found that social media has been driving unlicensed Melanotan-II sales.
4 Bottles are being marketed with pink packaging, pictures of Barbie dolls and a logo copied from the film.
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In response, TikTok has banned the hashtags #tanningnasalspray, #melanotan and #melanotan2, but these products continue to be promoted with more generic hashtags, such as #tanning.
Influencers rarely mention the side effects that accompany melanotan II. These include changes in the size and pigmentation of moles, rapid appearance of new moles, facial flushing, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and brain swelling.
Unaware that the produce was unlicensed and unregulated, Edith Eagle purchased and used nasal tanners ahead of a planned vacation to the Canary Islands.
On the second day of her holiday, she was rushed to the hospital with an allergic reaction she compared to 'suffocating inside' and 'drowning' within her own body.
4 Melanotan II is not approved by the FDA, meaning the product is not held to the agency's standards and could include variability in dose, undeclared ingredients, and potential microbial contamination.
In light of her hellish experience, she told the BBC she hopes governments will adopt 'a zero tolerance approach' to melanotan II.
Melanotan II can also cause rhabdomyolysis, also called 'rhabdo,' a condition characterized by the breakdown of muscle tissue, which releases a toxin into the bloodstream and can cause kidney failure.
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In men, the 'Barbie drug' can cause priapism or an erection that lasts more than four hours and is not related to sexual activity and can cause damage to the penis.
In effect, anti Ken-ergy.
Ironically, while Melanotan II is often marketed as a tool for preventing skin cancer, its use has been linked to the development of melanoma in existing moles. Experts believe this is caused by stimulated pigment cells triggering the proliferation of abnormal cells.
4 Edith Eagle compared her allergic reaction to 'Barbie drug' to 'suffocating inside' and 'drowning' within her own body.
Courtesy Edith Eagle
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In addition, melanotan II usage is often accompanied by risky behavior such as tanning beds and/or unprotected sun exposure.
Indeed, many TikTokkers say they snort the substances before heading to a solarium, as ingredients in the sprays allegedly help increase the effectiveness of tanning beds.
The emergence of nasal spray tans comes as rates of melanoma have rapidly increased in recent years, according to the American Cancer Society.
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Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, sending about 8,000 Americans to the grave each year
At present, there are no studies on the long-term safety or efficacy of melanotan-II use.
What's more, melanotan-II's promise of year-round golden skin is a fallacy, as the achieved 'tan' is not permanent and disappears when product use is discontinued.
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As we edge towards summer and the pressure to prevent paleness mounts, experts agree there are plenty of safe, and street legal ways to get your glow on, including self-tanners and body-makeup.
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