Here's the part nobody explains when they're selling you the "Barbie drug.", Melanotan 2 is a synthetic peptide that mimics alpha MSH a hormone your body already makes to tell your skin cells to Translational advances of melanocortin drugs: Integrating biology, chemistry and genetics ScienceDirect Melanotan 2: The Best Peptide for Tanning Jay Campbell About Editorial Team Jay Campbell Glucoprivation induced nutrient preference relies on distinct NPY neurons that project to the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus Metabolism Clinical and Experimental