Researchers are starting to get a closer view of the various gray-market peptides making the rounds on the back of the “looksmaxxing” trend, and it isn’t looking good.
In a new interview with Axios, Anthony Rossi, a dermatological surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, warned that the substance “Melanotan II” isn’t exactly the best thing you can put in your body.
Also known as the “Barbie drug,” melanotan II is an unregulated, synthetic hormone believed to stimulate pigment cells and encourage melanin production. It’s a popular product for folks looking for a shortcut to a golden glow, but as Rossi explains, it’s much more trouble than it’s worth.
Not only does it require constant injections to work, but according to Rossi it can be outright harmful, even leading to skin cancer in some cases.
