Tan by Needle?

Hans Reuchlin, a friend with Type I/II skin, alerted us to a recent letter in the BMJ which draws attention to the unlicensed use of melanotrophic peptides for recreational tanning: "Change in moles linked to use of unlicensed "sun tan jab"

The letter describes two women who were also sunbed users who presented with "rapidly pigmenting naevi and intense tan. Both patients had also subcutaneously injected Melanotan I and II obtained for self administration from the internet shortly before their moles changed."

Some of these products are purported to have aphrodisiac and positive erectile effects which will add to their illicit use one suspects. This is an emerging story. Stay tuned.

It reminds one of the book, Black Like Me by John Howard Griffith. The urban legend that Griffith died of melanoma is apparently erroneous.