Viral 'Barbie drug' for tanning can cause brain swelling and even cancer, experts warn Hannah Tittensor and her boyfriend Ben Dunlop have been injecting themselves with an illegal tanning drug called Melanotan for three years. On top of that, they use sunbeds regularly and slather themselves Glowup shortcuts are trending again, but doctors say the Barbie drug comes with real medical red flags. Unregulated, unapproved, and could have serious sideeffects is any tan worth that risk?, Melanotan What It Is and Its Relation to Skin Cancer Warning issued over increased use of 'Barbie drug'