The Barbie Drug

What is this drug? Can it really make you look like Barbie? Why doesn’t everyone use it?

Well, the drug in question is Melanotan II or MT2 for short. This drug was nicknamed the Barbie drug after being developed in Arizona in 1994. Ironically, however, it has not been approved by the FDA. The reason being that the FDA claims it can be harmful to those who already have moles. Apparently it aggravates mole growth and darkens them (which it can and does do) which can then lead to skin cancer. This last claim is a bit contested though. While MT2 can increase the size, growth rate and darkness of moles it does not necessarily make them malignant.

You see MT2 acts as a tanning agent. It was actually synthesised to prevent skin cancer by helping the skin build up a natural immunity to sunlight. That’s right. Your skin tans as a defence mechanism against the harmful UV rays present in sunlight. I like to think of it as an allergic reaction whereby melanin is released to prevent the harmful UVA and more harmful UVB rays from altering or breaking down your DNA structure which can cause cancer. Some people naturally have more melanocytes that produce more melanin. They have darker hair and tan quicker. Others are not as genetically blessed and have less melanocytes due to their genetic ancestry. You see Europeans, for example, naturally have less melanocytes because there are less harmful UV rays that reach the earth’s surface in Europe as opposed to Africa. You should keep in mind that UV rays are beneficial as they provide energy that is critical in the production of Vitamin D. The balance of melanin in the skin is therefore not as simple as it may seem at first. So MT2 basically “aggravates” your skin’s allergic reaction and helps your body build a natural defence against cancer causing UV rays by darkening the skin by releasing more melanin when your skin is exposed to sunlight. As a result moles will also become darker and can also increase in size, but this does not necessarily mean it will cause moles to become malignant. There have been a few cases where MT2 has caused melanomas, but these occurred in individuals who had a family history of skin cancer.

The benefits you get from taking MT2 may far outweigh the few side effects. It wasn’t nicknamed the Barbie drug for nothing. Bodybuilders like using it, not only for its tanning qualities, but also because it helps cells to store energy more readily. This energy is easily accessed during exercise, leading to a better workout. This is due to the fact that it increases GLUT-4 transporter activity. As a result of the increase in the transporter activity glucose is transported to skeletal muscles more readily. This, in turn, also combats diabetes as it increases insulin sensitivity. Furthermore it is also a slight appetite suppressant, which means it can help with weight loss or maintenance.

Over all MT2 seems like a pretty super drug, especially for fair skinned people living in sunny places. It is actually medically useful AND promotes overall physical appearance and body performance. No wonder it was nicknamed the Barbie drug. As a word of caution though, the negative side effects of the drug should be taken into consideration and administering the correct dosage using the right method is paramount to its success. If you are unsure about any of this information do have a look at our peptide profile for MT2.