Influencers Are Peddling Peptides, but Is Tanmaxxing Worth the Risk?

Seems like everywhere you turn these days, influencers are gushing about their peptide use and how it’s done wonders for their appearance and health. One of the more popular ones, Melanotan II, also known as the “Barbie” peptide, is said to give you a tan without the harmful effects of sun exposure. But many of these substances aren’t approved by the FDA and are often sold through unregulated gray market sources. So, how safe is any of this stuff? And what does the peptide boom tell us about the risks people will take in the name of “looksmaxxing?” Morgan talks to skin cancer surgeon Dr. Sungat Grewal and board certified dermatologist Dr. Caren Campbell about the risks of taking peptides. Then Morgan and STAT News reporter Sarah Todd break down how American medical libertarianism and the MAHA movement led us to this very point in time.  Guests: Dr. Sungat Grewal, double board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon Dr. Caren Campbell, board-certified dermatologist Sarah Todd, reporter for STAT News Further Reading/Listening: What the peptide craze reveals about Americans’ relationship with risk — Sarah Todd, STAT News FDA advisory panel narrowly rejects compounding of one peptide, backs two others  — Lizzy Lawrence and Sarah Todd, STAT News FDA panel backs compounded BPC-157, KPV peptides in win for RFK Jr. — Sarah Todd and Lizzy Lawrence, STAT News What the peptide craze reveals about Americans’ relationship with risk — Sarah Todd, STAT News Is Tanmaxxing an Addiction? A Dermatologist and Psychologist Explains — Katie Berohn, ELLE Inside the Weird New World of Peptide Tanning — Savannah Sobrevilla, GQ  Melanotan: The "Barbie drug" tanning peptide, explained — Carly Mallenbaum, Axios Inside the Viral Tanning Peptide That Accidentally Created Vyleesi’s FDA-Approved Low Sex Drive Drug — Sara Kitnick, LA Times The FDA May Reverse a Ban on 14 Injectable Peptides—What That Means For the Beauty Industry — Kara Nesvig, Allure The Skin Cancer Foundation Issues Warning Regarding Melanotan II —  Deborah S. Sarnoff, MD, Skin Cancer Foundation Read the Transcript here Email us at CloseAllTabs@KQED.org Follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠TikTok⁠ Credits: Close All Tabs is hosted by Morgan Sung. Our team includes producer Maya Cueva, editor Chris Hambrick and senior editor Chris Egusa who also composed our theme song and credits music. Additional production by Cayla Mihalovich. Our intern is Lauren Yoon. Additional music from APM. Audio engineering by Brendan Willard. Audience engagement support from Maha Sanad. Jen Chien is our Director of Podcasts. Ethan Toven-Lindsey is our Editor in Chief. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices