Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Afamelanotide, a long-acting alpha-MSH analog that darkens the skin: the approved, milder cousin of Melanotan II.
Approved as afamelanotide (Scenesse implant, EU 2014, US 2019) for erythropoietic protoporphyria; injectable vials are research chemicals.
Used for
- Tanning and sun tolerance
- Light-sensitivity diseases (EPP)
- Vitiligo repigmentation with UV light (studied)
How it works
Mainly activates MC1 receptors on skin pigment cells to make eumelanin (brown-black pigment) without UV damage. It has fewer of Melanotan II’s brain effects on libido and appetite.
What the research shows
- In two EPP trials, a 16 mg implant every 60 days increased pain-free time in sunlight and improved quality of life.
- For vitiligo, adding afamelanotide to narrowband UV-B gave faster and more repigmentation than UV-B alone, mainly in darker skin.
Dosing
Dosing isn’t listed on the public site. In the app, each published option is shown with its source (a drug label, a clinical guideline, a trial or community reports) and can be turned into a protocol you review.
Work out the units to draw for your vial →Side effects
- Nausea, headache
- Flushing
- New or darker moles and freckles
- Implant-site reactions
Cautions
- New or changing moles need a dermatologist; get a skin check before and during use.
- A tan from it does not replace sunscreen for skin-cancer protection.
- Research-chemical vials have no quality control: purity, dose and sterility vary. Third-party testing helps but is no guarantee.
Storage
Unmixed powder: freezer or fridge, away from light.
Once mixed with bacteriostatic water: fridge; the common rule is to use it within 28 days.
There is no label or published stability data for this one, so treat these as habits, not limits.
Stability once mixed
Linear, not a ring, but norleucine replaces the easily oxidized methionine and it has a D-amino acid, so it should hold up fairly well. Untested as a mixed vial.
Heat, shaking, freezing a mixed vial, light and many needle punctures all speed breakdown. Toss it if it turns cloudy, grows specks or changes color.
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Reference only, not medical advice. Written for this app from the cited research. Doses marked community-reported are not from trials.