Melanoma associated with the use of melanotan-II. Hjuler KF. et al. Dermatology. 2014;228(1):34-6. doi: 10.1159/000356389. Epub 2013 Dec 18.
The concept of Melanotan was an interesting one to give a tan to offer protection against skin cancer.
It acts by stimulating melanocytes to produce melanin.
However it is now available on the internet and Melanotan II (MT2) has become popular to use amongst young people attending fitness centers.
Tanning is indeed still fashionable and developed muscles combines with a darker phototype is still trendy in certain population subgroups.
The authors present a case of a 20-year old woman who developed a melanoma when combining tanning bed use with MT2:
-the melanocytic lesion was located on the left buttock (gluteal region)
-the skin was all intensely pigmented (Fitzpatrick phototype II)
-excision confirmed the diagnosis on histology
3 months earlier the patient had self-injected MT2 for about a month combined with use of a sunbed.
To read more about MT2, click HERE.
Comments:
It hardly comes to a surprise why skin cancers would occur.
-Melanotan induces the synthesis of melanin, and tanning of the skin gives a false sense of security and entices to added sunexposure
-Tanning beds are a known risk factor to develop melanoma.
Yet it might be hard to convince some going to fitness centers, that this type of appearance is unhealthy for the skin.
However, the publication is a case report and further studies are needed to assess prevalence in those combining both methods
Article selection: Prof Dr Jean-Hilaire Saurat – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland
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