I tried tanning injections for a month”: A harrowing case study you need to read

Now, how did I come across the idea of using tanning injections? Well, it all began with a late-night scroll through social media. All that the algorithm showed me was influencers flaunting their perfectly glowing, bronzed skin, with no beaches or tanning beds required. For someone with inherently pale skin, this product was appealing to me.

I discovered posts about tanning injections that contain a synthetic hormone, Melanotan II, that delivers a deep, effortless tan. I didn’t have to do much; with minimal effort, I was getting more than asked for: quick tanning results, and a promise of appetite suppression as a “bonus” for weight loss. Having a sudden confidence boost, I convinced myself to try it. Unfortunately, what followed was a month-long nightmare of side effects and profound regret. This is a cautionary tale I wish I’d read before.

Sourcing the product

For a product that claims to do so much, was it difficult to obtain? Surprisingly, accessing these tanning injections was alarmingly simple, and that should’ve been my first red flag. Well, here’s how it unfolded:

• A quick online search led me to unregulated websites selling Melanotan II vials, shipped discreetly from overseas vendors.
• To be clear, these weren’t approved pharmacies, but just some shady sites with glowing reviews yet no verifiable credentials.
• My tanning kit arrived in a week, containing a tiny vial of powder, sterile water, and syringes. Surprisingly again, no doctor’s instructions, just simple DIY guides from bodybuilding forums.

I had initially come across warning notes from trusted sources, such as the FDA, stating that Melanotan II is unapproved for human use and is illegal to market without oversight. However, the allure of tanned skin blinded the potential hazards.

The first injection

Now is my first instance of the tanning injection process: day one of self-injecting with something unapproved was a mix of excitement and dread. Since I’d never injected anything myself before, here’s what it was like:

• To prepare myself for the process, first, I sterilized my abdomen. Then, mixed the powder with sterile water as directed in online forums and drew up the “standard” dose of 0.025 mg/kg.
• As I proceeded to self-inject, my hands did shake as it stung a bit. This pain gave me paranoia: What if I hit a vein? Did I inject something contagious?
• Within hours of the injection, I felt a warm flush, followed by mild nausea and a pounding headache. This is how I knew the product was doing its job, inducing sympathomimetic effects and mimicking nervous system overstimulation.

But I pressed my nerves down and continued with tanning injections every other day as recommended.

The high – Initial results were thrilling

Within the first week, I saw that these tanning injections lived up to the hype. The result?

• By day three of starting the process, I could visibly notice my skin darkening, a genuine-looking tan.
• Even my friends noticed and asked if it was a vacation glow. This heightened my self-esteem and made me trust the product even more.
• As many users raved online, I also lost a few pounds due to suppressed appetite.

Minor side effects were manageable at first, like occasional nausea or fatigue, but nothing serious.

The turn – Escalating side effects

The blindfold has entirely faded by week two as the side effects grew impossible to ignore:

• What started as mild nausea turned into debilitating bouts, leaving me bedridden and vomiting.
• Dull headaches became migraines that left me sensitive to light and sound.
• I started getting constant flushes with my face turning beet red randomly, sometimes multiple times a day.
• Visible changes throughout my body as new freckles sprouted across my arms and chest, and existing moles darkened. There is one mole on my back that has grown in size and become itchier, signaling red flags.

Then I began my research on Melanotan 2 again, and found documented reports suggesting eruptive nevi and changes in melanocytic lesions, potentially increasing skin cancer risk. Now I tried to downplay it, but fear already crept in.

The breaking point – A health crisis

By week three, side effects snowballed into something terrifying. I experienced:

• Flu-like symptoms, including sudden chills, muscle aches, and a persistent low-grade fever, mimicking systemic inflammation.
• An awkward and unnatural spike in libido disrupted my daily life.
• Sharp pains in my lower back and sides pointed to kidney issues. Later, my urine tests revealed elevated creatinine levels, a sign of renal dysfunction linked to tanning injections.
• Several blood tests detected muscle breakdown leaking into my bloodstream, a sign of a dangerous condition called Rhabdomyolysis, commonly linked to Melanotan II.

The aftermath – Regret and recovery

After a health crisis, I immediately stopped the injections. But the damage was done, and it lingered:

• Once I stopped using these tanning injections, my tan began to fade unevenly, leaving blotchy patches.
• My recovery phase continued with weeks of fatigue, countless medical tests, and mounting bills. Thankfully, my kidneys slowly stabilized, yet the fear of long-term damage remains.

The lesson

I started this quest to achieve aesthetic beauty, but got a lesson in its true cost. The biggest mistake was ignoring the warnings from trusted sources and risking my health for a fleeting moment of vanity. So, if these tanning injections tempt you, here’s my plea:

• Choose safer options, like self-tanners or gradual sun exposure with SPF, as they are risk-free alternatives.
• Trust the scientific resources. Unregulated products like Melanotan II bypass safety checks for a reason and have been proven to be dangerous.
• Always value your health. No beauty enhancement is worth living with lifelong fears.

My harrowing experience with tanning injections taught me to never compromise with health. I’m sharing this so you don’t have to learn the hard way.