Man Injects Gym-Bought Tanning Peptide, Gets a New Melanoma

Doctors in Illinois and Michigan reported a 46-year-old man with a history of skin cancer who developed a new melanoma five weeks after starting daily injections of Melanotan-II bought at his gym. The lesion was successfully removed, but researchers warn about unregulated peptides.

• Man began injecting Melanotan-II in July 2024 after learning about it on social media and from bodybuilders
• Five weeks later his moles changed; a biopsy a month after that confirmed early-stage melanoma
• Melanotan-II is unlicensed for any indication but is sold in gyms and online
• The FDA is set to review the peptide's status amid plans to ease regulation