Melanotan 1

Overview

Melanotan 1, also known as afamelanotide, is a synthetic analog of the hormone alpha-MSH. It pushes melanocytes to produce melanin, which darkens the skin without any sun exposure, and it offers some photoprotection for people who are sensitive to light. Unusually for this category, it has a legitimate approved form, but it is also sold as an injectable research chemical where purity and storage are not guaranteed.

What the Research Shows

Much of the published research is fairly technical and centers on drug-delivery formulation rather than dramatic clinical outcomes. Studies examined how Melanotan-I is released from biodegradable PLGA implants, observing a three-phase release pattern, and developed controlled-release versions using poloxamer 407 to sustain delivery. Other implant work demonstrated steady release of the peptide over about a month. A human observational study found that MELANOTAN significantly increased melanin, with the strongest effect in people carrying MC1R genetic variants. A separate literature review of Melanotan I and II catalogued adverse effects ranging from minor reactions to serious ones, including toxidrome and melanoma, so the safety picture is not spotless.

Community Sentiment

Across 38 community reports, sentiment is 67% positive, 13% neutral, and 20% negative. People most often mention tanning, fast results, and a natural-looking color. On the negative side, reports include nausea, new moles, rashes, itchy skin, and concern about melanoma risk, which is worth taking seriously given the small report count.

Dosage

A typical range is 0.5-1 mg subcutaneously per day. Users often run a loading phase of about 1 mg daily until they reach the tan they want, then cut back the frequency to maintain it.

Effectiveness

Compared with Melanotan 2, MT-1 works more slowly and takes longer to produce visible tanning, but the results tend to look more gradual and natural. Its approved form, Scenesse, is cleared by the FDA for erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP).

Availability

Melanotan 1 exists both as the FDA-approved prescription Scenesse for EPP and as a research chemical sold by peptide suppliers. It is generally more expensive than MT-2.

Bottom Line

Melanotan 1 is one of the better-documented compounds in this space, with an actual approved indication and a respectable stack of RCTs behind the broader alpha-MSH literature. The caution flags are real though: nausea is common, existing moles can darken, and the literature itself links this peptide class to serious adverse outcomes including melanoma. The gray-market injectable version carries no purity guarantee, which is a meaningfully different risk profile from the prescription product.