Hundreds On Merseyside Risking Their Health Injecting Unlicensed Tanning Product
EXCLUSIVE: One Needle Exchange told Radio City News 2% of their clients are using Melanotan
Radio City News have uncovered a dangerous beauty craze on Merseyside, with people injecting the unlicensed tanning product Melanotan.
"I'm amazed at the risks people take when there are safer options out there."
We made the discovery during our investigation into steroids across the region.
Two percent of clients who currently use the needle exchange at Wirral Ways To Recovery in Birkenhead are injecting Melanotan.
It’s not currently available as a drug for human use - and comes with some serious potential side effects. It's thought that it can make the skin of a user turn darker.
Local Dr Keiran Grey says he’s been approached about it:
"A couple of patients have asked what I thought of it. I had to do some research because I'd never heard of it. We don't know if it is a safer alternative to sunbeds.
"Injecting yourself with something that you don't know what the long term side effects are - and something that seems to have to some fairly grim immediate ones - doesn't seem like a good idea to me."
"I'm amazed at the risks people take when there are safer options out there.
"I think sunbed use has gone down and there's lots of money going in to fake tanning so I'm a bit shocked by how many people are using it locally."