Melanotan in Bodybuilding

To get a high quality bodybuilding competition tan athletes need to use the correct tanning products. The right color tan applied in the right way plays an important role between winning and losing a bodybuilding competition. A poor tan can seriously affect your chances of winning, whereas getting the very best ultimate tan can seriously improve your chances of success. So if you are serious about your On Stage Look then you should be very carefully while choosing method of tanning.

Now a beautiful and lasting tan may be obtained without UV exposure or fake tan. Tanning process in the body is the production of pigment in the skin cells called melanin. Melanin is produced by melanocytes, which are located in the basal layer of the epidermis. The stimulation of melanocytes to produce melanin is done by melanocortin hormone. Melanin absorbs harmful UV radiation, transforming them into harmless heat through a process called “ultrafast internal conversion.” By this process, the melanin can reduces the generation of free radicals to a minimum, and so prevents indirect DNA damage which can produce malignant skin melanomas.

Melanotan represent a hormone, analogue of melanocyte-stimulating (a-MSH) human hormone by which the body produces melanin that as we said earlier is protective pigment that protects the skin from harmful UV sun exposure. Melanotan hormone or simply said melanotan has additional properties – significantly increases the sex drive, reduces appetite, causing a persistent aversion to food, due to what can be achieved a powerful weight loss.

Melanotan was first synthesized at the University of Arizona. Researchers knew that the best way to protect skin against cancer is the activity of melanin in the cells, that is, the process of tanning. They suggested that the most effective way to protect skin against cancer will be stimulation of natural pigmentation system to produce a protective tan before exposure of skin to UV radiation.

In May 2010 the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA – Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco) became the first national organization in the field of health, approving Melanotan as therapeutic agent for Italian citizens, reducing sensitivity to sunlight. In other countries it is widely used under the personal responsibility.
Melanotan is available both injectable stuff and nasal spray. (to see instruction please click here) After reaching the desired hue tanning frequency of use can be reduced.
Remember – the more you expose your skin to UV-radiation (solarium, sun) when taking Melanotan, the deeper and darker your tan will be (Melanotan stimulates human body to produce melanin, and thus, the skin darkens in response to UV-radiation instead of burning).
Then let’s make a summery, Melanotan apply:
- To obtain a stable effect of bright and beautiful tan without resorting to extended contact with sunlight or fake tan;
- In order to obtain improved contrast tan using additional exposure to the sun or solarium;
- In the case of interdiction to bronze or attend solarium, in order to protect against skin cancer and sunburn, especially in areas exposed to permanent effects of the sun;
- Melanotan is used to activate the sexual function and stabilizate libido;
- Also Melanotan is prescribed in cases of uncontrolled food intake, to significantly reduce appetite.
In some cases the usage of Melanotan can cause nausea, flushing of the face, decreased appetite, tiredness. Not everyone gets these side effects, but if it occurs it’s usually only after the first few dosages until the body adapts.

Anabolic Steroids and Muscles

Anabolic steroids, known technically as anabolic-androgen steroids or colloquially as "steroids" (or even "roids"), are drugs that mimic the effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in the body. They increase protein synthesis within cells, which results in the buildup of cellular tissue (anabolism), especially in muscles. Anabolic steroids also have androgenic and masculinity-enhancing properties, including the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics such as the growth of the vocal cords, testicles and body hair (secondary sexual characteristics). Anabolic-androgenic steroids were first isolated, identified and synthesized in the 1930's, and are now used therapeutically in medicine to induce bone growth, stimulate appetite, induce male puberty and treat chronic wasting conditions, such as cancer and AIDS. Anabolic steroids also increase muscle mass and physical strength, and are therefore used by athletes and bodybuilders alike to enhance strength or physique. Known side effects include harmful changes in cholesterol levels (increased Low density lipoprotein and decreased High density lipoprotein), acne, high blood pressure and liver damage. Some of these effects can be mitigated by taking supplemental drugs.
Mechanism of action

The pharmacodynamics of anabolic steroids are unlike peptide hormones. Water-soluble peptide hormones cannot penetrate the fatty cell membrane, and only indirectly affect the nucleus of target cells through their interaction with the cell’s surface receptors. However, as fat-soluble hormones, anabolic steroids are membrane-permeable, and influence the nucleus of cells by direct action. The pharmacodynamic action of anabolic steroids begins when the exogenous hormone penetrates the membrane of the target cell and binds to an androgen receptor located in the cytoplasm of that cell. From there, the compound hormone-receptor diffuses into the nucleus, where it either alters the expression of genes or activates processes that send signals to other parts of the cell. Different types of anabolic steroids bind to the androgen receptor with different affinities, depending on their chemical structure. Some anabolic steroids such as methandrostenolone bind weakly to this receptor in vitro, but still exhibit androgenic effects in vivo. The reason for this discrepancy is not known. The effect of anabolic steroids on muscle mass is caused in at least two ways: first, they increase the production of proteins; second, they reduce recovery time by blocking the effects of the stress hormone cortisol on muscle tissue, so that catabolism of muscle is greatly reduced. Some hypothesize that this reduction in muscle breakdown may occur by way of anabolic steroids inhibiting the action of other steroid hormones called glucocorticoids, which promote the breakdown of muscles. Anabolic steroids also affect the number of cells that develop into fat-storage cells by instead favoring cellular differentiation into muscle cells. Additionally, anabolic steroids can decrease fat by increasing basal metabolic rate (BMR), since an increase in muscle mass increases BMR.
Physical effects

Anabolic steroids are testosterone and dihydrotestosterone hormone mimics that stimulate anabolism, specifically protein synthesis and muscle hypertrophy. Due to its similarity to the male sex hormones, using anabolic steroids can result in masculinization of women and changes to secondary sex characteristics of men. This makes steroids attractive to those wishing to alter their appearance, particularly for body building. Further negative side effects of anabolic steroids include stunted growth in adolescents, increase in cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, acne, liver damage and changes to the left ventricle of the heart, not to mention potential psychiatric issues. Despite these side effects, anabolic steroids can be used therapeutically to stimulate bone growth and appetite, and treat chronic wasting conditions associated with cancer and AIDS, though at much lower dosages than those used for performance enhancement.
Steroid abuse

Abuse of anabolic steroids differs from the abuse of other illicit substances, because the initial use of anabolic steroids is motivated not by the immediate euphoria that accompanies other abused drugs such as cocaine, heroin and marijuana, but by the user's desire to change their appearance and performance, characteristics of great importance to adolescents. These effects can boost confidence and strength, leading the user to overlook the potential serious long-term damage that these substances can cause. Due to the unfair advantage given to athletes and competitors who use anabolic steroids, all major sports associations have banned their use.

While anabolic steroids can enhance certain types of performance or appearance, they are dangerous drugs, and when used inappropriately, they can cause a host of severe, long-lasting and often irreversible negative health consequences. For example, they can stunt the height of growing adolescents, masculinize women and alter sex characteristics of men. Anabolic steroids can also lead to premature heart attacks, strokes, liver tumors, kidney failure and serious psychiatric problems. In addition, because steroids are often injected, users risk contracting or transmitting HIV or hepatitis.