This article from the DailyMail is offering some warnings about being too quick to jump on the Melanotan II bandwagon. It is worth remembering on top of all of the warnings below, that Melanotan specifically as a rosacea treatment is also something we know very little about. I think that the combination of rosacea sufferers desperate for relief, the relative ease of obtaining Melanotan, and the fact that so little is known about its effects, is a recipe for dangerous outcomes.
If you are visiting this page because you are curious about Melanotan side effects then please be aware that no-one anywhere in the world has medical approval to sell the peptides marketed as melanotan. Melanotan has never been brought to market, it is an old brand name that some are using to sell peptides of unknown origin. Thus your chance of unintended side effects when using grey-market peptides is likely to be high.
The only body that is developing melanocyte-active treatments is Clinuvel in Australia and they are bringing a product called Scenesse (formely afamelanotide) to market across Europe and in the US. This product is firstly targeted at a set of rare skin conditions that need strong protection from the sun and ultraviolet radiation.
Pretty pills: The dark side of the latest underground beauty trend
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The drug, a synthetically produced hormone, was developed by researchers at the University of Arizona to combat skin cancer – it worked by increasing the levels of melanin, which is the body’s natural sun protection system.
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However, Melanotan II was not a simple pill. It’s a hormone, which means it can’t be swallowed, as the chemicals in the gut would destroy it. It can, however, be introduced into the body through an implant under the skin or via an injection.
It has not yet been approved by the FDA in the US, nor is it a licensed drug in Britain. But this doesn’t mean it’s not easily available.
Several websites around the world, including one in the UK, sell Melanotan II and give users detailed instructions on how to dissolve the drug in water and inject it.
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Alongside the potential side effects of nausea and flushing, some users are reporting that existing moles and freckles become darker, and that new moles and freckles also form.
Could it be that a product developed to tackle skin cancer might actually cause it? The honest answer is that we just don’t know.
Mark Birch-Machin, professor of molecular dermatology at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, thinks that the original study into what the drug is capable of has some merit, but stresses that our knowledge of its application and its side-effects is patchy.
“Melanotan II hasn’t been around long enough for us to be able to look at the long-term effects this hormone could have on the body,” he says. “And taking any drug that hasn’t been extensively trialled will always have its potential dangers.”
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81 Comments over 2 pages ↓
Hi i have been taking this Melanotan II for about 4 weeks now and the side effects that i have getting are facial flushing for about 5-10 minutes after i have injected it in to my stomach. i have however getting more freckles and some are very very dark which my sister is very concerned about then i noticed a brown spot in the white of my eye which my sister googled and it came up as a melanoma, i have been to the optitons and they said that it will just be pigmentation but just to be on the safe side they have referred me to the RVI to the eye department. I can honestly say that id rather have bought fake tan than be having the thought of having cancer just for a tan for the summer.
that comment above is fake they ut it on every discussion just to frighten people, they just copy it off that one guy that posted it on some forum and distribute it over the internet
Hi Peter,
It is one of the interesting things about internet forums – how do you know who you are dealing with ? It can be tricky to sieve the junk out.
I try hard here to only quote published articles and some user reviews. Anyone can comment though.
Sadly we need to be careful with both new medications and reviews about them ! Conservatives like me would prefer to wait until official trials are done, but plainly that isn’t the case for everyone.
all the best,
davidp.
ive used melanotan II for 2 years. it is amazing. im only 17 and no 1 knows about it, it cured my severe acne, gave me flawless skin, gave me a beautiful bronze look that wasnt natural and ive managed to tone up and have an amazing body. people who havent seen me in a while think ive had plastic surgery and work done, but really just a quick 5 minute needle.
Hi Ryan,
I really want to believe your post, but it sounds a bit too good to be true.
davidp.
I’m 19 and I have rosacea. i would do anything to hide it or get rid of it. i would love to try melanotan, but i’m going to talk to my dermatologist first.
hi , i have been using melanotan for around 3 months and i can say the only side effects i have experienced are , redness to the face and feeling quite hot , which lasted around 15 minutes and for the first week i felt really sick , but that feeling has now gone …
before i started with the injections i was quite pale and had red patches around my nose area but since taking melanotan that has now gone , evened out if u like . so thats a plus about it . and with the comments i get about how well i look from being tanned makes it all worth it .
Hey guys. My name is Cassie Burkinshaw and I’m a student at Leeds University preparing a documentary on melanotan; exploring the positives and negatives such as how it has helped people with skin conditions like rosacea. We don’t acctaully have to make the documentary at this stage but I was wondering if anyone would be willing to share with me some details about how melanotan has helped you, whether your still using it etc? If you would be willing to talk to us on the phone or on film that would be great as we want to be able really uncover melanotan and shine a light on the positive affects of melanotan as well as the negative coverage it has recieved.
But ANY information would extremely helpful!
please email me at cassiebuk@hotmail.com or you can add me on facebook if you like.
Thank you for letting me take up your time x
Also, if anyone is interested and email me, i would be happy to answer any questions and share information from the hefty research dossier i prepared on melanotan.
Hello Cassie,
Do you have a web page to show that you are enrolled at Leeds ? A link to your supervisor ?
This might help people trust that any information that they give will be treated confidentially.
davidp.
Sure. Here is a link to the lecturers on my course http://ics.leeds.ac.uk/staff1.cfm?pbcrumb=Staff. Diane Myers is my mentor on this documentary so if you would like to email her for varification i’m sure she would be more than happy to help.
Regards,
Cassie Burkinshaw
hey guys, i have been using melanotan 2 for about 4 weeks now, i love it! i used to hammer the sunbed 3 times a week and still never used to get much colour. Now i have no spots, and a deep olive tan that i dont even get from a holiday! I take my injection in the evening so sleep off any side effects. The only thing i have noticed is more deeper mole’s, than normal so keeping an eye on them.
hi, can anyone help me, ive only being using melanotan 2 for a week now, but i have noticed whitw spots on my legs?? wat are these???
I have just had my 1st injection abouut half an hour ago… so far, iv had a hot flush for about 5 minutes, the odd itch in various different places on my body and slight, very sloght nausea; but i think its mind over matter now iv read th side affects..
iv been told to take 10ml every other day at 1st, then after a week go onto 15ml and a short blast on the sunbed once a week. Does anyone else do this?
Abby
Hi Abbby..
Do NOT take 10ML.. That’s way to much.
There is such a thing as overdosing on Melanotan.
Its all dependent on your body weight…
Have a look at this chart..
The following chart assumes a concentration of 0.02mg/kg of melanotan II. This amount is low enough to produce a tan with minimal side-effects. Although, you could also go with a lower concentration, say 0.017mg/kg — but you will need a different chart. One more thing, the chart was compiled assuming that you are using 10mg vials.
10 mg / 12.00 injections = 0.833 mg — 42 kg = 92 lbs @0.02mg/kg
10 mg / 11.50 injections = 0.870 mg — 43 kg = 96 lbs @0.02mg/kg
10 mg / 11.00 injections = 0.909 mg — 45 kg = 100 lbs @0.02mg/kg
10 mg / 10.50 injections = 0.952 mg — 48 kg = 105 lbs @0.02mg/kg
10 mg / 10.00 injections = 1.000 mg — 50 kg = 110 lbs @0.02mg/kg
10 mg / 9.50 injections = 1.053 mg — 53 kg = 116 lbs @0.02mg/kg
10 mg / 9.00 injections = 1.111 mg — 55 kg = 122 lbs @0.02mg/kg
10 mg / 8.50 injections = 1.176 mg — 59 kg = 130 lbs @0.02mg/kg
10 mg / 8.00 injections = 1.250 mg — 63 kg = 138 lbs @0.02mg/kg
10 mg / 7.50 injections = 1.333 mg — 67 kg = 147 lbs @0.02mg/kg
10 mg / 7.00 injections = 1.429 mg — 71 kg = 157 lbs @0.02mg/kg
10 mg / 6.75 injections = 1.481 mg — 74 kg = 163 lbs @0.02mg/kg
10 mg / 6.50 injections = 1.538 mg — 77 kg = 170 lbs @0.02mg/kg
10 mg / 6.25 injections = 1.600 mg — 80 kg = 176 lbs @0.02mg/kg
10 mg / 6.00 injections = 1.667 mg — 83 kg = 184 lbs @0.02mg/kg
10 mg / 5.75 injections = 1.739 mg — 87 kg = 192 lbs @0.02mg/kg
10 mg / 5.50 injections = 1.818 mg — 91 kg = 200 lbs @0.02mg/kg
10 mg / 5.25 injections = 1.905 mg — 95 kg = 210 lbs @0.02mg/kg
10 mg / 5.00 injections = 2.000 mg — 100 kg = 220 lbs @0.02mg/kg
10 mg / 4.75 injections = 2.105 mg — 105 kg = 232 lbs @0.02mg/kg
10 mg / 4.50 injections = 2.222 mg — 111 kg = 245 lbs @0.02mg/kg
10 mg / 4.25 injections = 2.353 mg — 118 kg = 259 lbs @0.02mg/kg
10 mg / 4.00 injections = 2.500 mg — 125 kg = 276 lbs @0.02mg/kg
Take me for example.. Im around 87 kg’s so what i’ve done is put 2 cc’s (2ML’s) of sterile water into the vial.. Then ive withdrawn 19 units 1.818mg’s. This has given me about 7 doses from the one vial.
If your gonna use Melanotan it is so important that you know the difference between ML & MG’s
You should only be injecting once a day.. Injecting more then 5mg a day has been proven to have no affect.. Stick with the chart.
Goodluck
Ive been using melanotan II for about 2 months, it has gave me an acceptional colour and ive even lost weight, i havnt done a sunbed in about a month and im like an italian, although im irish. but ive went from having one or two moles and freckles to about 30 or more, and thats just what i can count on my upper body. Some of them are very irregular in shape, and in colour. I have an emergency appointment with my GP in the morning, after counting 15 or more moles and feckles that wernt previously there one arm alone. at this point im very frightened that i may have gone too far in the name of vanity. There is no1 who likes tan more than myself, im a complete tanorexic, but if this is what my skin is like after two months id hate to see me after 2 years, ALOT of messages on the internet are spam from the melanotan distributors, please, please, please think before trying this drug. Its potentially a great drug, but it hasnt been tested. and its not been approved for a reason, which the FDA doesnt have to disclose. If you would like any information, or would like to ask me any questions, feel free to add me on msn glenn_gordon_2005@hotmail.co.uk or on facebook Glenn Gordon, on the northern Ireland network. I am 22 years of age and ill be honest, i think i have melanoma. But ill know more when i get some proper tests done by a physician. thanks
take care
Glenn Gordon
After seeing my doctor, ive learned that the moles and blemishes in which ive got arnt cancerous or dangerous at all. But at the rate that they have appeared, ive decided not too use MT2 again. Its just not worth it in the name of vanity. I do think this drug has alot of potential in helping people with Rosacea, but lets wait until its approved by the FDA.
Kindest Regards
Glenn Gordon
Hello,
I’m a producer working for a Belgian Channel called RTBF and I’m producing a report about the suntan and skin cancer . For my report, I’d be very interested to talk about Melanotan.
I’d love to speak to someone and arrange an interview.
So I could understand better how it works. Interview can be done in masked face if requested.
Do you think it’s possible for your to put me in touch with someone who use Melanotan? Have you got any contact usefull for me? The only thing is that I need someone who live in Belgium or England. Do you think that you can help me?
My request is very urgent, please do let me know if you’ve got any information.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
Do not hesitate to contact me by email lauraelkaim@hotmail.com or phone +447961788876
Many thanks and best wishes
Laura Elkaim
Hi my name is paul and i’ve been using melanotan for bout 14 months on and off. I usually use it for about three months on then a month off. I’ve had no bad reactions from using it except for the face flushin etc. I too get a few extra moles from it but they disappear once I stop using it. I have noticed however that when i’ve been using it for a while I start to get very fatigued. I use it at 3ml of water and then each injection is to number three on the syringe. I load it every day for about 10 days and then twice a week to maintain. If any body would like to get in touch with me my email address paulnshell@hotmail.co.uk thanks
hello my name is paul(or homo for short)i love this product i use it at least 6 times a day,but my boyfriend says my winkle is looking really black and its also grown!! i think when i was a sleep he cut my old one off ,and stuck my mate leroys on unless its the product?lol i do love it! thank you x x
im just about to inject the best product ever, now let the whole world get mad black together, if we die, we die, but at least we will look mad black in the coffin, lets get mad black and enjoy our youth and screw as many fit birds as possible and if we die in a few years well great because no one wants to live in the horrible, disgusting and undignified state of old age.
Regards,
Rod
Hi, been using melotan for 5 months, got shocking headaches, developed lots more darker moles and on tablets for a skin condition that it has caused, full of patches. : (
I’ve been using Melanotan 2 for several years. Typically I use about 1 mg/day for ten or twenty days, then go off it for an equal amount of time. Before I started using it my skin was fairly light — a typical northern European color, and I had a distressing tendency to get a red flushed face with even the slightest exertion or nervousness or after eating certain foods.
Thanks to Melanotan 2 my skin is now quite dark — I’ve been mistaken for an Indian until people notice my blue eyes and blond hair. I don’t know if my face still flushes — if it does, the redness is completely invisible now. I don’t get sunburned even if I spend hours in the summer sun without sunblock.
The Melanotan did induce a lot more dark pigment spots than I used to have — like freckles — but they’re not particularly noticeable on my dark skin.
I think Melanotan 2 is a wonderful substance. I predict that someday it, or its successors, will be used by a large fraction of the Caucasian population. For now, I’m pleased to stand out as an unusual, dark-skinned guy with blue eyes.
Hello! I used Melanotan for 4 days, by the 3rd day i started to notice my skin darkening..By day 4 my face is covered in new freckles that are quite dark and my exsisting moles and freckles have darkened also.
Iv’e stopped using it now as all these spots have freaked me out!
My question to anyone who has experienced this is will these spots disapear and will the existing moles go back to there original clour?
Hi I am thinking about using Melanotan, but afraid that my freckles will get darker as I ‘ve typical IRISH skin, pale with freckles…
anyone any advice?
Hi Gill! If my own experience is any indication, the first effect you would notice is a darkening of freckles and the appearance of many more that are currently small or invisible. Then, as the rest of the skin darkens, the freckles become less noticeable. If your skin is capable of getting really dark, then the freckles can become significantly less noticeable than they are now, even though they will in fact be darker than they are now.
However, my own skin type was Northern European rather than “Irish” — i.e., it was medium-light skin, very few freckles, brown hair, rather than light skin, lots of freckles, and red hair. So my results may not apply to Irish-type skin.
Maybe there are some other members of this forum who started out with Irish-type skin and who can tell us for sure how effective Melanotan is in darkening the white part of such skin.
I took this last year and ive started up again this year!
Wish my skin was naturally like that 
its awful…
I love the outcome to M2….
My *BAD SIDE EFFECTS* are that i feel SICK
My eyes get really wide (like ive just taken a line of coke) and i get this really weird horny feeling and just wanna stretch my bones. And when i stretch its just never enough! LOL Weird but true!!!! My toes and fingertips go a bit numb!!! Headaches too!
*So, what do we do?*
Do we take the rough with the smooth? Take the effects 4 a fab tan?????
I wish these side effects wern’t there
Any comments??????
Lauren
x
When I first started using Melanotan2 I felt some very mild flu-like symptoms for a week or two. Then they went away and haven’t come back. Sounds like your symptoms are a lot more intense, but I’d be surprised if they don’t go away if you keep using it.
Of course, the intensity of your side effects might be due to the dosage you’re using. I use about 1 mg/day.
Melanotan2 is definitely a libido-enhancer. Many users see that as a side-benefit rather than a negative side effect, but if you don’t like feeling like that, you can switch to Melanotan1, which I gather doesn’t have sexual effects.
~Rusty
I took two cycles of MT-II from Eur*patan last year. PLEASE DON’T RISK YOUR HEALTH LIKE THIS. Just went to doc to check out the most irregular new spot I’d developed. Biopsy results = melanoma. I’m scared because I haven’t shown the doc other spots. Maybe I’m fine and the chemical is fouling the biopsy… I hope! but I will NEVER TAKE THIS AGAIN! and I HAVE TO GET SURGERY THIS MONTH TO REMOVE IT after the STAGING TESTS.
- Rachel
Melanotan II has been studied for at least 18 years by many different researchers, both connected and unconnected to the commercial interests. A great deal is known about this substance, and as far as I can determine from the medical literature, nobody has suggested that it causes melanoma.
On the other hand, it has been suggested that pre-existing melanomas may be stimulated by the use of Melanotan II. Melanomas may quickly become darker and larger when MT-II is being used. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19380666) While this is unsettling, it could also permit earlier detection of melanomas than would otherwise occur. So I don’t know whether to consider it a bad or a good side effect.
It seems very possible that Rachel’s use of MT-II caused her to quickly discover a melanoma that she already had but was not particularly noticeable before MT-II enhanced its appearance.
~Rusty
I am coverred in freckles too!!!! Iv’e also stopped taking it now because I’m worried about all these moles and freckles everywhere! My beautiful porceline comlexion is ruined and I look like a leopard! I look like I’ve aged 7 years:-(
Maybe I did it wrong or something because I didnt go dark, only spotty. Do you guys do sunbed sessions or time in the sun as well? And if so how often and for how long?
Ashleigh, how long did you use MT2 before stopping? While I don’t want to put myself in the position of advising you about what to do, I will describe my own experience:
I had a fairly even complexion before starting MT2 — just a handful of small pigmented spots on my body. After several weeks of MT2 I had hundreds of them, and the ones I started with looked much bigger. But I decided that if I continued using it, the rest of my skin would become dark enough to make the freckles less noticeable… and I was right. I let myself get quite dark:
http://www.group9institute.com/pictures/Rusty,%20back.jpg
http://www.group9institute.com/pictures/Rusty,%20front.jpg
I still have lots of pigmented spots — freckles, moles, age-spots? — but I hardly notice them anymore, and apparently other people don’t either.
I would expect that if I stop taking MT2, the whole process would reverse: my skin would get light, leaving hundreds of major freckles, and then the freckles would gradually get smaller and fewer. Not having done this experiment, I’m really speculating. And I don’t plan to do it, since I’m very satisfied with having a dark tan.
~Rusty
iv just started injectin melanotan how long does it take 2 see difference n how often shud i take it n how many sunbed session shud i hav in a week
Lisa, don’t use a sunbed at all. It damages the skin. The whole point of using melanotan is to get a tan without having to damage your skin with UV light.
When I started using melanotan 2, I didn’t notice any tanning effect for at least 2 weeks. I was using 1 mg/day every day. Then my skin started getting dark pretty fast, so I cut back to 1 mg every other day, and later to 1 mg/day for 10 days followed by none at all for several weeks. Other people use different schedules.
~Rusty
Hi i’m currently waiting on my first ever melanotan to arrive hopefully this week, i’m from northern ireland but have very dark hair and dark eyes etc I normally hardly even have to look at the sun and I go brown (though I’m quite pale at the min because there’s not been much sun) I have a wedding to go to in just under 4 weeks prob 3 weeks the time i receive melonatan2 and I’m wondering should I risk looking like a dot to dot and start taking it as soon as it arrives or stick with an all over spray tan for the wedding? Or will I have a nice all over tan for the wedding?
Its kinda important as its my boyfriends sister who’s getting married and I’ll be in loads of family photo’s I wanna look good not strange??/
Cat
I am waiting for my order to arrive too!
I am a bit of a risk taker and cant get this idea out of my head now untill ive given it a whirl – despite all the negatives of this drug.
I dont even know how to use a needle and reading up on dosage is a nightmare, seems to be lots of different accounts of procedure with varied dosage? so I really am stuck! I want a little picture book with step to step instructions haha
I Naturally have a few freckles so very worried about the freckle face stage but hopefully its true that when the skin becomes darker they fade.
Cat I think you should go for it, ive heard it takes 2 – 3 weeks to get to desired colour but im sure a spray tan would blend freckles caused by melanotan, so do both for the wedding if needs be.
Goodluck
X
Some says it is dangerous to use melanotan others says it is ok. The bottom line is who among are telling the truth.? I would suggest that try it for yourself and see for the results and always remember that don’t be addicted with it.
As far as “trying for yourself” everyone needs to understand that no medical authority anywhere in the world has approved melanotan for use. Nobody, anywhere for any medical condition. Nada.
Any peptide you buy over the internet could have originated from anywhere, could be of any quality, could be tainted etc. etc. No authority has control over the quality of the product nor carefully noted side effects or negative outcomes. You are on your own if you suffer from a side effect.
We all complain about the FDA and having to get prescriptions and go through doctors, but there are so many examples of when things go wrong that you have to be willing to assume all risks to self medicate with melanotan.
The availability of Scenesse and the rare conditions that it is indicated for does seem a long way way from the desire for a cosmetic tan, but please don’t be fooled in to thinking that there is no risk in just trying it for yourself to see.
davidp.
Took my first shot today.
BAD SIDE EFFECTS:
I was feeling sick for 9 hours straight and was in bed.
I had an erection for 5 hours. I felt like stretching and had rushing up my spine.
I couldn’t squeeze anything tightly. I was vomiting but nothing coming up. I didn’t eat anything all day. My stomach was twisted/twisting all day.
I don’t really want a tan this bad.
Any comments.
Wow that sounds terrible, from listening to others these are all common sides but no body I know has had it that bad! One friend who has done it 3 summers in a row experienced alot of sickness this year causing her to stop and end the corse – worth noting she did get it from a different source this time around!
I am now through the ‘loading period’ and havnt experienced anyhting like that – the stomach twisting maybe..but could cope with it, and a few headaches but this definately got better through the course, also watery eyes – but I dont know if thats me being paranoid, apetite was off for first few days but back to normal now. Also less energy – a family friend who is a nurse has said any increase in melonin can cause sleepyness – lack of energy, this seems true thinking back to how lazy and sleepy you can be on holiday etc.
This hormone -without a doubt- stops sunburn, having had a few sunbed sessions and not burnt once when previous to the course I would have sizzled and have always quite feared sunbeds!
All being said, vain or not – I am really happy with the results – About to go travelling and I hope to keep bronzing, the worst is over and it really wasnt that bad for me – luckily!
Iv been takin melonotan for 3 weeks and think its great iv had no side effects wot so ever best thing iv ever tried for a beautiful tan and will be carryin on using it
He I’m back again,
I stopped using it as the side effects were so bad. I’m like an Italian and I only used four vials.A mole appeared on my right arm near that is painful and purple (lol), I’m going to the doctor tomorrow for something else so ill tell him and show him.
hi all! okay i have never used melanotan 2 but im thinking strongly about getting some. Im Irish, have very pale skin and some freckles.(Skin type 1) My only concern is the dakening of my freckles and the formation of new ones…When the rest of me tans, will my freckles be noticable? (i really dont want that) its a big fear i have about using this. Please tell me more if you have had any experience ith m2 and freckles. PLEASE!!! thanks,
Sandy xxx
Hi Sandal, my freckles have darkened, I look dirty and someone called me a sand monkey, I was white like the Casper!
hi setanta, has your tan blended in with the frckles though or are they very noticable? how long have you been on M2?
Back again,
Went to the doc have a mole that changed so much it has to be removed, it went purple and got very sore. Im getting it removed on the 20th of july. Be careful with this stuff it works but nothing is really worth getting surgery for. I have nothing to gain or lose by telling you this just my view on it.
Hi I’m 14 and I have ADHD I have meletonin on prescription and I have to take two a night I have been taking this for a year now and I am wondering if there is a chance of skin cancer or not ??
Hi Nathan,
Melatonin and Melanotan are totally different substances. They have nothing in common — the names just happen to look similar. So you have nothing to worry about.
Hi Everyone,
My name is Rhys James, I’m producing a documentary for VBS.tv, about people’s bodies, and what people use to keep themselves looking good.
I am filming in Liverpool.
I would like to get a couple of people on camera to talk about their experiences of Melanotan / MT2, whether it’s any good, any effects. I want to find out whether it is desirable to use.
Please do not hesitate to get back to me, visit the website if you’re worried about authenticity, or email me on rhys@viceuk.com. It’s a really strong project and I would love to get this angle on it. Get back to me!
Best Wishes,
Rhys
ermmmmm i am finkin about takin melanotan for the first time but am slightly worried about some of the side affects people have experienced…..
however aswel as the negatives there seems to be positives about this drug but i am just worried (knowing my luck) i wil get the worse side effects…..
i am pale skinned and have very few freckles
i have tried the sunbeds but they only ever turn me red and i return straight bak to my normal colour
i normally use fake tan but i really dont like the smell or been patchy wen it is coming off i prefer the ‘natural tan’ look
should i risk it or just stick to the fake tan…????….
views on this please stef