Are Tanning Peptides Safe? Dermatologists Weigh In

What Are Tanning Peptides?

Tanning peptides, otherwise known as melanotans, are synthetic peptides that increase melanin production in the skin to give it a tanned appearance. The most popular version is Melanotan II, which promises a way to tan faster, reduce sunburn risk, and even increase libido.

“Melanotan II is a synthetic analog of alpha-MSH that binds melanocortin receptors and pushes your melanocytes to produce more pigment,” says Divya Shokeen, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, hair transplant surgeon, and founder of OSVI Dermatology & Surgical Institute. “The pitch is a faster, deeper tan with less sun.” 

Are Tanning Peptides Safe?

Tanning peptides increase skin pigmentation but “their long-term safety profile remains unclear,” says Dmitriy Schwarzburg, MD, board-certified cosmetic physician and founder of Skinly Aesthetics in New York City. Take a closer look and you’ll see their effects are definitely more than skin deep: While beauty treatments like nasal sprays and injectables aren’t anything new—just look at ones like Botox or Ozempic—the difference between those procedures and tanning peptides is that those are FDA-regulated, while peptides aren’t. It’s sold in the gray-market, and that means no oversight on purity, sterility, or dose, says Dr. Shokeen. “You’re injecting an unregulated peptide and trusting a vendor—that alone is a hard pass for me.”

“There are two problems: the drug and the tan,” says board-certified dermatologist Michael Tassavor, MD. With no regulations on tanning peptides, they could carry a bacterial contamination you’re then injecting into your skin, adding infection risk on top of already reported cases of kidney injury and systemic toxicity, he adds. Influencers may be selling tanning peptides as a shortcut to a tan, but the experts say the bigger shortcut is to serious health risks.

There have also been concerns regarding changes in existing moles, the development of new pigmented lesions, and the potential for these changes to make skin cancer surveillance more challenging, says Dr. Schwarzburg. There are documented case reports of existing moles darkening, enlarging, and changing in shape after Melanotan use, plus new pigmented lesions appearing, adds Dr. Shokeen. “Some users have developed melanoma or triggered it, we don’t know,” she adds. “Whether the peptide drives that or simply masks it, the outcome is the same on my end: it scrambles the exact early-warning signs I rely on.”

When screening a patient, Dr. Shokeen watches moles for changes like asymmetry, irregular borders, color shifts, and growth. “Tanning peptides darken and alter pigmented lesions across the board, which means a melanoma can hide in plain sight inside a field of newly darkened moles,” she says. “It essentially masks a screening signal that catches this cancer early, when it’s still curable.”

“These peptides stimulate the very pigment cells melanoma arises from,” adds Dr. Tassavor, citing a case in which a healthy 22-year-old developed oral melanoma after using a Melanotan II nasal spray before tanning. “Causation isn't proven, but the timeline is hard to ignore,” he says.

Safer Ways to Get a Summer Glow

Tanning—with the use of a peptide or not—is never healthy, agree all three dermatologists. “In reality, a tan is a biological response to skin injury caused by ultraviolet radiation,” Dr. Schwarzburg explains. Melanin production ramps up because UV is damaging the DNA in your skin cells, and the pigment is your body’s attempt to shield against more of it, adds Dr. Shokeen. “A tan is not a sign of health, it’s a wound response—so a ‘base tan’ has already accumulated DNA damage,” she Dermatologists agree tanning peptides aren't safe to take.

“There’s no safe tan, no safe sunbed, and no protective ‘base tan,’” says Dr. Tassavor. “The only safe way to look tan is topical: DHA-based sunless tanners, lotions, mousses, spray tans, which tint the skin's surface without UV and without injecting anything.” Either that, or embrace the skin you have, says Dr. Shokeen. “Every other route—sun, beds, peptides—is inviting harm,” she adds. 

Of course, these sunless options don’t shield you from UV rays, so you still need daily broad-spectrum sunscreen. “Regardless of skin tone or tanning practices, daily sunscreen use remains one of the most important steps for reducing premature aging and lowering the risk of skin cancer,” Dr. Schwarzburg concludes. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Are tanning peptides FDA-approved?

No. Tanning peptides, including Melanotan II, are not FDA-approved for cosmetic tanning in the United States.

Do tanning peptides work?

They can stimulate melanin production, but dermatologists say their safety has not been established and they do not recommend using them.

What's the safest way to get a tan?

Self-tanners, bronzing drops, body makeup, and spray tans create the appearance of a tan without exposing your skin to UV damage or requiring injectable products.

Final Thoughts

The bottom line? All three dermatologists agreed there's no safe way to use tanning peptides. They’re unregulated and under-researched, and what we do know is that there’s already been reported cases of kidney injuries and melanoma. A fast tan isn't worth it, and as these dermatologists explain, even a gradual one is your skin responding to damage. 

Still, there’s plenty of ways to stay glowy and bronzed all summer. Grab your favorite self-tanner, check out our application tips, and don’t forget to apply SPF daily. Need help picking out a glowy mousse, mineral sunscreen, or more? Mosey on over to the IPSY Shop to see our tried-and-true product recommendations.