Melanotan I
Skin Health
In short
- Also known as afamelanotide. Unlike Melanotan II, this one is an APPROVED medicine (Scenesse) — for erythropoietic protoporphyria.
- It is selective for MC1R, so it produces pigmentation without the nausea, appetite, and sexual effects of Melanotan II.
- Approved in the EU (2014) and by the FDA (2019) as a subcutaneous implant, not an injection.
- The approved indication is an ultra-rare photosensitivity disorder, not cosmetic tanning.
- It carries the same requirement for skin surveillance as any melanocortin agonist.
Structure
How it works
Afamelanotide is a linear analogue of alpha-MSH, selective for the melanocortin-1 receptor on melanocytes. MC1R activation drives eumelanin synthesis — the darker, more photoprotective pigment.
In erythropoietic protoporphyria, patients accumulate protoporphyrin IX which causes severe phototoxic pain on light exposure. Increasing eumelanin provides photoprotection and extends the time patients can tolerate light.
MC1R selectivity is the key difference from Melanotan II: without meaningful MC3R and MC4R activity, it does not produce the nausea, appetite suppression, and sexual effects of the non-selective analogue.
What the research shows
Phase 3 trials in erythropoietic protoporphyria showed significant increases in pain-free time spent in sunlight, supporting approval in the EU and US.
It reliably produces pigmentation, which is both the mechanism and the most visible effect.
Studies in vitiligo combined with narrowband UVB have reported improved repigmentation.
Cosmetic tanning use is off-label everywhere and unstudied for that purpose.
Dosing in the literature
Figures below are quoted from published studies, with the species or population they were measured in. They are records of what was studied, not recommendations.
| Studied in | Amount | Route | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human — approved use (Scenesse), erythropoietic protoporphyria | 16 mg implant every 2 months during spring and summer | subcutaneous implant | FDA label |
| Human — vitiligo studies with narrowband UVB | Implant protocols; see source | subcutaneous implant | PubMed |
Commonly reported ranges
These are amounts people report using. They are not from any study, have not been evaluated for safety, and are reproduced here only because they circulate widely and are better seen alongside the evidence than instead of it.
| Reported by | Amount | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Commonly reported for cosmetic use | 500 µg–1 mg daily during a loading phase, then less frequently | subcutaneous injection |
The approved product is a slow-release IMPLANT delivering drug over roughly two months, not a daily injection. Community injection protocols produce a completely different exposure profile from the studied product, and no data covers that pattern.
Handling and storage
The approved product is a dissolvable implant inserted subcutaneously by a healthcare professional.
Research-market Melanotan I is lyophilised powder for reconstitution and daily subcutaneous injection, which is a different delivery approach entirely.
Skin surveillance applies as with any melanocortin agonist — photograph moles and know their baseline appearance.
Side effects
From the approved product's trials: nausea (less than Melanotan II but present), headache, fatigue, and implant-site reactions. Darkening of existing naevi and freckles is expected.
Because it is approved, there is a real post-marketing safety database — a substantial advantage over Melanotan II.
The dermatological surveillance concern is the same: it darkens the lesions you would otherwise be monitoring for change. Regular skin examination is part of the approved product's guidance.
Combinations
Combined with narrowband UVB in the vitiligo research context, which is a studied combination.
Combining with Melanotan II duplicates melanocortin agonism and reintroduces the non-selective effects this compound was designed to avoid.
Research status
A genuine development programme by Clinuvel, with phase 3 trials and regulatory approval in two major jurisdictions.
This is one of very few compounds in this library that went the whole distance through approval.
Legal status
Approved as Scenesse in the EU and US for erythropoietic protoporphyria, prescription-only and administered by a healthcare professional. Research-market Melanotan I sold for cosmetic tanning is unapproved and unregulated.
WADA status
Not specifically named on the WADA Prohibited List as of this review date. Verify against the live list before competition.
Conclusion
Melanotan I is the approved, selective, better-characterised sibling of Melanotan II — and almost nobody using it recreationally is using the approved product or the approved delivery method.
If you want the tanning effect with fewer systemic effects, the selectivity argument is real. The skin surveillance requirement does not go away.
Sources
Track your own Melanotan I protocol
Peppers logs your doses, models your levels from this half-life, tracks your vials and tells you when you will run out. Free on iPhone.
Reference and educational information only. Not medical advice. Nothing here diagnoses, treats, or prescribes, and nothing here is a recommendation to use any compound. The compounds described are research chemicals and are not approved for human consumption. Legal and anti-doping status change — the review date above is when these claims were last checked. Talk to a qualified clinician about anything you intend to take.