What is Melanotan II the drug that the TGA urges consumers to avoid? Viral 'Barbie drug' for tanning can cause brain swelling and even cancer, experts warn No, you don't need the 'Barbie drug' to tan, whatever TikTok says. Here's why melanotan II is so risky 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