The FDA-approved cousin of MT-2 — more selective for MC1R, meaning cleaner tanning effect with fewer libido / nausea side effects. Approved as Scenesse for EPP; used off-label for sun sensitivity and tanning.
Melanotan I (MT-1), marketed as afamelanotide under the brand name Scenesse, is a synthetic analog of α-MSH with much higher selectivity for the MC1R (melanocortin-1 receptor) compared to its cousin Melanotan II. MC1R is the primary pigmentation receptor, so MT-1 delivers the tanning effect without MT-2’s strong MC3R/MC4R-driven side effects (nausea, libido, flushing, mole darkening).
Scenesse is FDA approved (2019) for adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) — a rare genetic condition causing severe sun sensitivity. Delivered as a 16 mg implantable controlled-release device. Off-label use for cosmetic tanning is much more common in Europe and Australia than the US.
FDA approved as Scenesse for EPP. Prescription only for the approved indication. Off-label cosmetic use and research-chem sourcing exist. Not WADA prohibited.
Activates melanocyte MC1R to produce eumelanin (brown/black pigment). Much less activity at MC3R/MC4R than MT-2 — hence fewer central (nausea, libido, appetite) and peripheral (flushing) effects.
Increased eumelanin in skin absorbs UV and reduces damage — the mechanism behind EPP symptom relief and, secondarily, the cosmetic tan.
The pharmaceutical form is a 16 mg SubQ implant (inserted under the skin of the hip) releasing drug over ~2 months. Off-label users inject daily SubQ instead.
| Benefit | Evidence |
|---|---|
| EPP sun tolerance | The approved indication, and the evidence is a pair of multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials published in the New England Journal of Medicine — 74 patients in the EU and 94 in the US, 16 mg implant or placebo every 60 days (Langendonk 2015, PMID 26132941). Primary endpoint was hours of direct sunlight without pain: in the US study, median 69.4 hours versus 40.8 on placebo at six months (P = 0.04). Real, and more modest than "dramatically increased" suggests. |
| Long-term safety (the best on this site) | 115 EPP patients received 1,023 implants over up to eight years across two porphyria centres with no serious adverse events attributed to the drug and sustained quality-of-life benefit (Biolcati 2015, PMID 25494545). Very few compounds covered here have anything comparable — though note it is uncontrolled observational data in a patient population, not healthy cosmetic users. |
| Photoprotection — measured on DNA, not just colour | 65 fair-skinned volunteers, 0.16 mg/kg subcutaneously in three 10-day cycles over three months (Barnetson 2006, PMID 16763547). Melanin density rose in every treated subject, most in those who started palest — +41% in low-MED skin versus +12% in high-MED. Sunburn cells after 3 MED of UV fell more than 50%, and thymine dimers in the basal layer fell 59% (P = 0.002). That last one matters: thymine dimers are direct UV-induced DNA damage, a harder endpoint than visible tanning. |
| Cosmetic tanning | Reliable darkening with much less side-effect burden than MT-2 |
| Vitiligo | Combined with narrow-band UVB: improved repigmentation in small studies |
| Solar urticaria | Small case series reporting benefit |
Build your protocol, log every dose, monitor your body's response, and get reminders so you never miss a dose.
Start Tracking FreeNot medical advice. These figures describe what is reported in the literature and what practitioners and communities do — not a recommendation, and for most compounds here no human dose-finding study exists. Talk to a qualified healthcare provider.
Dose and 60-day interval reflect the approved Scenesse label (EMA/FDA prescribing information); confirm against current labeling with your provider rather than relying on community summaries.
Unregulated & off-label. PMIDs 28266027 and 20545686 explicitly note that dose, preparation, and administration of non-pharmaceutical melanotans are not established, and the MHRA has flagged public-health risks from their use. The dose ranges below are community-circulated conventions, not validated protocols from peer-reviewed literature. Safety outside the approved Scenesse indication has not been established.
Worth being explicit, because MT-1 is one of the few compounds here where the gap runs downward. The approved product is a 16 mg controlled-release implant delivering drug over 60 days. The photoprotection trial used 0.16 mg/kg per dose in 10-day cycles — for an 80 kg adult that is roughly 12.8 mg per dose, an order of magnitude above a 0.25–0.5 mg community injection.
There is a pharmacological reason the approved form is an implant rather than a syringe: afamelanotide’s intrinsic half-life is only about 30 minutes. The implant exists to convert that into steady exposure across two months. Daily injection of a 30-minute peptide produces a spiky exposure profile that no trial has studied, so the honest position is that community protocols are neither the approved regimen nor a scaled-down version of the trial regimen — they are a third thing, at much lower total exposure.
That cuts both ways. Lower exposure plausibly means less effect, and it also means the reassuring eight-year safety record was built at doses well above what most people here are using.
Community reports suggest MT-1 is easier to tolerate than MT-2 (less nausea, less CNS activity), but no peer-reviewed head-to-head tolerability comparison exists — treat this as anecdotal. UV exposure is still required to trigger pigmentation.
Not medical advice. These figures describe what is reported in the literature and what practitioners and communities do — not a recommendation, and for most compounds here no human dose-finding study exists. Talk to a qualified healthcare provider.
For research-peptide MT-1 powder (not for Scenesse implants, which are pre-prepared):
10 mg vial + 2 mL BAC water = 5 mg/mL = 5000 mcg/mL
| Dose | Volume | Syringe Units |
|---|---|---|
| 250 mcg | 0.05 mL | 5 units |
| 500 mcg | 0.10 mL | 10 units |
Pre-filled with a typical Melanotan I (Afamelanotide) setup. Edit any field — the draw updates live.
Insulin syringe — 100 units = 1 mL
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Much cleaner side-effect profile than MT-2 due to selective MC1R binding.
Off-label research-chem MT-1 (not Scenesse) carries real biosafety risk: the UK MHRA and published reviews (PMID 20545686) have flagged blood-borne virus transmission from needle sharing and product impurity as documented hazards of unregulated melanotans. Always use sterile single-use needles, never share equipment, and source from suppliers that publish certificates of analysis.
Melanotan I (Afamelanotide) is a research peptide not approved by the FDA for human use. It is sold only as a research chemical, and StackTrax does not endorse or facilitate personal use.
Quality varies enormously among research-chemical suppliers. At minimum, look for:
Lyvn does not carry Melanotan I (Afamelanotide). They are the vendor we recommend elsewhere on this site, and they publish the full independent panel per batch — which makes their catalogue a useful yardstick for the criteria above even on a compound they do not stock. We are not recommending a specific supplier for Melanotan I (Afamelanotide) itself, because we have no basis to.
For research use only. Not for human consumption. 21+.
Build your protocol, log every dose, monitor your body's response, and get reminders so you never miss a dose.
Start Tracking FreeMelanotan I (MT-1), marketed as afamelanotide under the brand name Scenesse, is a synthetic analog of alpha-MSH with much higher selectivity for MC1R (the primary pigmentation receptor) compared to its cousin Melanotan II. The MC1R selectivity delivers the tanning effect without MT-2's strong MC3R/MC4R-driven side effects like nausea, libido changes, flushing, and pronounced mole darkening.
MT-1 is much more selective for MC1R, while MT-2 hits MC1R, MC3R, and MC4R broadly. The practical result is that MT-1 still produces reliable darkening but with a much cleaner side-effect profile than MT-2: less nausea, less central activity (libido, appetite), less flushing, and less pronounced mole darkening (though some still occurs). Community reports describe MT-1 as easier to tolerate, but no peer-reviewed head-to-head tolerability comparison exists, so treat that comparison as anecdotal.
Yes, as a pharmaceutical. Scenesse (afamelanotide) was FDA approved in 2019 for adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), a rare genetic condition causing severe sun sensitivity. It is delivered as a 16 mg controlled-release SubQ implant inserted by a provider, dosed every 2 months during high-sun season. Scenesse is prescription-only for the approved indication. Off-label cosmetic tanning use and research-chemical sourcing of MT-1 powder are separate categories and are not FDA approved. MT-1 is not WADA prohibited.
Community-circulated convention for research-peptide MT-1 is 250 to 500 mcg daily SubQ, with a 2 to 4 week loading phase combined with UV exposure to induce pigmentation, then 250 to 500 mcg 2 to 3 times per week as maintenance. PMIDs 28266027 and 20545686 explicitly note that dose, preparation, and administration of non-pharmaceutical melanotans are not established, and the MHRA has flagged public-health risks from their use. UV exposure is still required to trigger pigmentation; MT-1 does not replace sunscreen.
Common effects are injection site reactions, mild nausea (less than MT-2), darkening of existing moles and freckles (less pronounced than MT-2 but still present), and headache. The bigger risks are around unregulated product: the UK MHRA and published reviews (PMID 20545686) have flagged blood-borne virus transmission from needle sharing and product impurity as documented hazards of unregulated melanotans. Contraindicated with history of melanoma or any skin cancer, atypical mole syndrome, hepatic impairment, and pregnancy or breastfeeding. Anyone with many moles should monitor annually with a dermatologist, and any new or changing mole warrants immediate evaluation.
Beyond the FDA-approved EPP indication and off-label cosmetic tanning, MT-1 has been studied as an adjunct to narrow-band UVB for vitiligo (small studies showed improved repigmentation) and in solar urticaria (small case series reporting benefit). Phase 3 data for EPP showed dramatically increased pain-free sun exposure.
Disclaimer: This guide is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The compounds discussed are not FDA approved for human use. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any new supplement or peptide protocol. StackTrax does not sell peptides or supplements directly — purchase links go to third-party vendors. StackTrax is not responsible for the products, quality, or business practices of any third-party vendor.
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StackTrax guides cover peptides and compounds that are not FDA-approved for the uses discussed. The dosing, reconstitution, and safety information is compiled from published research and community protocols for educational purposes only.
Before using any compound mentioned here, consult a qualified healthcare provider. StackTrax does not sell, prescribe, or recommend these substances for personal use.