Supplements for Tanning & Skin Darkening

The active ingredient in every self-tanner. It colours the outermost dead skin layer without UV and without melanin — the one thing on this goal that produces a tan-like colour without UV or a drug. It is NOT sunscreen: the protection it gives is about SPF 3 and fades within a week. (Abbreviated DHA in cosmetics, which is NOT the omega-3 of the same abbreviation.)

A synthetic α-melanocyte-stimulating-hormone (α-MSH) analogue and melanocortin-1-receptor (MC1R) agonist that drives eumelanin production. IMPORTANT: distinguish two very different things. (1) The PRESCRIPTION DRUG afamelanotide (Scenesse) is a 16 mg subcutaneous implant placed by a clinician, FDA-approved (2019) and EMA-approved (2014) to prevent phototoxicity in adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) — backed by genuine Phase 3 RCTs. (2) Grey-market 'melanotan I' injected for cosmetic tanning is the SAME molecule sold unregulated, of unknown purity/dose, and is unsafe — associated with mole/nevus changes and is not a supplement. This entry covers the drug honestly; it is not a recommendation to self-inject.

A grey-market injectable α-MSH analog sold for tanning ('the Barbie drug'). Chemically it is the SAME peptide as the approved drug afamelanotide (Scenesse). Honest appraisal: as an unregulated tanning injectable it has no efficacy/safety validation; its evidence base belongs to the regulated form for a rare blood disorder. Research-use-only.

An unapproved, grey-market injectable melanocortin peptide sold illegally online as a 'tanning' agent (and for erections). Honest framing first: melanotan-2 is NOT an approved medicine anywhere — it is an unlicensed, unregulated research chemical with no quality control. Its documented harms are serious: new and changing moles, case reports of MELANOMA, rhabdomyolysis, priapism, nausea/flushing, renal infarction, and posterior reversible encephalopathy. It does NOT replace sun protection and may mask or accelerate skin cancer. Do not confuse it with bremelanotide (PT-141 / Vyleesi), the FDA-approved melanocortin relative — they are different compounds, and melanotan-2 has nothing comparable to bremelanotide's phase-3 evidence.

A food-colouring carotenoid taken in high doses to bronze the skin. It works — and it deposits dose-dependent crystals in the retina, and a fatal aplastic anaemia has been reported in a healthy young woman who took it for tanning. Not approved as a tanning agent in the US or EU.