Man warns against 'dangerous' tanning injections after turning so dark he 'looked like Madge from Benidorm' and now has the freckled skin of a 60 year old Viral 'Barbie drug' for tanning can cause brain swelling and even cancer, experts warn View of Association of tanning injection with hypercortisolism, hyperglycaemia and ketosis in type 1 diabetes mellitus British Journal of Diabetes Tanning peptides like melanotan are trending online, but theyre not approved, not regulated, and illegal to advertise in Australia. When products havent been properly tested, theres no way to know Melanotan & Tanning Injections: Safe or Risky?