What are the mechanism of action and side effects of Melanotan 2 (afamelanotide)? 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 longer lasting than Melanotanassociated melanoma Paurobally 2011 British Journal of Dermatology Wiley Online Library View of Association of tanning injection with hypercortisolism, hyperglycaemia and ketosis in type 1 diabetes mellitus British Journal of Diabetes Clinically important side effects of Melanotan II and placebo Download Table