Is Melanotan the New Solarium for a Perfect Tan? Your body already makes a hormone that tells your skin to tan. Melanotan 2 is a synthetic peptide engineered to mimic that hormone but in a version that's more potent and Not all self tanners are created equal. Emerging ingredients like melanotan, melanoidins, and other agents raise safety and concerns, according to the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. If you have questions about the Viral 'Barbie drug' for tanning can cause brain swelling and even cancer, experts warn