Melanotan‐associated transverse melanonychia

SMART: An Internet study of users experiences of synthetic tanning

“…Dysplastic changes in existing nevi, eruptive atypical melanocytic nevi or appearance of new lesions and freckles following melanotan use are common (Burian, 2013;Cardones, Rand, & Richnik, 2009;Cousen et al, 2009;Ferrandiz-Pulido, Fernandez-Figueras, Quer, & Ferrandiz, 2011;Hueso-Gabriel et al, 2012;Javed et al, 2013;Langan, Ramlogan, Jamieson, & Rhodes, 2009;Langan et al, 2010;Ong & Bowling, 2012;Paurobally et al, 2011;Reid, Fitzgerald, Fabre, & Kirby, 2013;Sivyer, 2012;Thestrup-Pedersen & Sondergaard, 2010). Cases of malignant melanomas have also been reported (Ellis, Kirkham, & Seukeran, 2009;Paurobally et al, 2011Paurobally et al, , 2013. Hueso-Gabriel et al (2012) have stated that individuals with melanoma risk factors are more likely to suffer onset and transformation of melanocytic nevi, and risk of melanoma development as consequence of Melanotan use.…”

“…Melanotan I and II are more than 1000 times more potent than endogenous a-MSH due to resistance to enzymatic breakdown (Hadley & Dorr, 2006;Langan et al, 2010). However, Melanotan II increases pigmentation at lower cumulative doses than Melanotan I, with greater levels of side effects relating to effects on satiety and sexual stimulation (Mahiques-Santos, 2012;Mataix, 2012;Nelson, Bryant, & Aks, 2012;Ong & Bowling, 2012;Paurobally et al, 2013;Strange, 2009). See Fig.…”

“…Public concerns for these risks associated with UV exposure (El Ghissassi et al, 2009;Langan, Nie, & Rhodes, 2010;Monfrecola, Fabbrocini, Posteraro, & Pini, 2000) have stimulated the development and cyber marketing of sunless synthetic tanning agents (Cousen, Colver, & Helbling, 2009;Evans-Brown, Dawson, Chandler, & McVeigh, 2009;Evans-Brown, Kimergård, & McVeigh, 2009;Fitzgerald, Fryer, Dwyer, & Humphrey, 2006;Hadley & Dorr, 2006;Kanayama, Hudson, & Pope, 2012;Paurobally, El Hayderi, Richert, Andre, & Nikkels, 2013;Paurobally, Jason, Dezfoulian, & Nikkels, 2011;Rhodes & Langan, 2011). These unregulated and untested chemicals are chosen by users to circumvent the known risks associated with UV exposure and contain a-melanocytestimulating hormone (a-MSH) synthetic analogues, which promote melanogenesis or pigmentation of the hair and skin in mammals (Henninge, Pepaj, Hullstein, & Hemmersbach, 2010;Hueso-Gabriel, Mahiques Santos, Terrádez Mas, & Santonja López, 2012;O'Leary et al, 2014).…”

“…Diffusion of Melanotan I and II products has occurred due to widespread availability on the Internet, in tanning salons, gyms, beauty salons and cosmetic physicians (Langan et al, 2010;Mahiques-Santos, 2012;Van Hout & Bingham, 2013). Retailing within unauthorised sourcing networks and websites offers anonymity to consumers, and protects suppliers from regulatory controls (Kimergård, McVeigh, Knutsson, Breindahl, & Stensballe, 2014) thus making it increasingly difficult to estimate prevalence of Melanotan use, amount of online and realtime vendors, counterfeiting of Melanotan products, product composition, presence of contaminants and quality of products purchased Evans-Brown, Kimergård, et al, 2009;Knudsen, Kjergaard, & Dalhoff, 2012;Langan et al, 2010;Mataix, 2012;McVeigh et al, 2012;O'Leary et al, 2014;Paurobally et al, 2013). Illegal manufacturing and use of subcutaneous injectables and nasal sprays is reported (Kaski et al, 2013).…”

Melanoma Associated with the Use of Melanotan-II

“…The substance can illegally be obtained from the Internet or from gyms and sunbed parlours, without any medical control or restriction [5]. Several governmental drug-regulatory bodies have issued warnings [6] against the use of MT-II, and in the literature MT-II has been related to eruptive [7] and atypical naevi [8], melanoma [9], melanonychia [10] and rhabdomyolysis [11]. …”