Melanotan I vs Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Side-by-side comparison of Melanotan I and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8: mechanism, half-life, dose range, safety profile, and vendor pricing.
Price snapshot
Melanotan I
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Melanotan I
Melanotan I (afamelanotide) is a linear synthetic analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) with the substitution of norleucine at position 4 and D-phenylalanine at position 7. Unlike Melanotan II (which is…
Lowest listed price: $35.00 across 4 listings
Full Melanotan I profileAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (INCI: Acetyl Hexapeptide-3 in older nomenclature, commercially known as Argireline) is a synthetic hexapeptide designed as a competitive inhibitor of the SNARE complex at the neuromuscular junction.…
Lowest listed price: $129.00 across 1 listing
Full Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 profileSide-by-side comparison
| Attribute | Melanotan I | Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Other | Skin & Hair |
| Research Stage | FDA Approved | Marketed topical cosmetic ingredient (INCI: Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 / Argireline). Supported by small human anti-wrinkle studies, including one randomized, placebo-controlled trial; no systemic or injectable clinical development. Not an FDA-approved drug. |
| Mechanism of Action | Melanotan I is afamelanotide, i.e. [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH ('NDP-alpha-MSH'), a synthetic 13-amino-acid analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. The Nle4 and D-Phe7 substitutions make it resistant to enzymatic breakdown and roughly 10-100x more potent… | Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (Argireline) is patterned after the N-terminal domain of SNAP-25 and behaves as a competitive mimic of that protein during SNARE complex assembly. The SNARE complex (SNAP-25 + Syntaxin-1 + VAMP/synaptobrevin) is required for… |
| Half-Life | Controlled-release subcutaneous implant (Scenesse): high inter-subject variability; median Tmax ~36 h, mean Cmax ~3.7 ng/mL, apparent terminal half-life ~15 h, with plasma levels measurable to ~96 h post-dose (FDA pharmacokinetics, n=12). Injected/bolus free peptide: peak plasma at ~1-2 h with an elimination half-life of ~30 minutes; the Nle4/D-Phe7 modifications prolong biological (melanogenic) activity well beyond plasma clearance. | Short (topical application, no systemic absorption at cosmetic doses) |
| Typical Dose Range | 16 mg | — |
| Dosing Frequency | every_1_to_4_weeks | twice_daily |
| Administration | Subcutaneous, Intramuscular | Topical |
| Side Effects | Generally mild. Commonly reported: transient nausea (usually milder and less frequent than with Melanotan II), facial flushing, headache, fatigue, and skin hyperpigmentation including darkening of existing moles, freckles and nevi. Implant-site reactions occur… | — |
| Molecular Weight | 1646.85 g/mol (average; molecular formula C78H111N21O19) | 888.99 g/mol (average); molecular formula C34H60N14O12S |
| Common Vial Sizes | 5, 10 | — |
Price History
2 data points- Ion Peptide
- Disguised Alpha
Price tracking
Melanotan I: potential benefits
- Increased melanin (eumelanin) production and skin darkening via MC1R activation, with a reduced UV requirement
- FDA-approved photoprotection in erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) as the Scenesse 16 mg subcutaneous implant [PMID:26132941]
- Reduced phototoxic pain and improved quality of life in EPP patients in randomized controlled trials [PMID:26132941]
- Tends to produce fewer MC4R-type effects (spontaneous erections, strong libido, marked nausea) than the cyclic Melanotan II - attributable to Melanotan II's greater potency and metabolic stability, not to true MC1R selectivity of Melanotan I
- Investigated in research settings for photoprotection in UV-sensitive populations
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8: potential benefits
- Targets dynamic expression wrinkles - forehead, glabellar, and periorbital (crow's feet) lines
- Proposed to reduce facial neuromuscular signaling by destabilizing the ternary SNARE complex (acts as a SNAP-25 N-terminal mimic)
- A randomized, placebo-controlled human study reported ~49% subjective improvement in periorbital wrinkles vs 0% for placebo over 4 weeks (small evidence base) [PMID: 23417317]
- Marketed as a topical 'Botox alternative' - reversible mechanism, not a neurotoxin, with no botulinum-type systemic risk
- Supplied as a raw cosmetic-compounding powder for research/formulation use (verify purity via HPLC COA)
- Commonly combined with related peptides (e.g., Acetyl Octapeptide-3 / Snap-8) in anti-wrinkle formulations
Frequently asked
What's the difference between Melanotan I and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8?
Melanotan I is a other that melanotan i is afamelanotide, i.e. [nle4, d-phe7]-alpha-msh ('ndp-alpha-msh'), a synthetic 13-amino-acid analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. the nle4 and d-phe7…. Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 is a skin & hair that acetyl hexapeptide-8 (argireline) is patterned after the n-terminal domain of snap-25 and behaves as a competitive mimic of that protein during snare complex assembly. the snare…. The two differ in mechanism, half-life (Controlled-release subcutaneous implant (Scenesse): high inter-subject variability; median Tmax ~36 h, mean Cmax ~3.7 ng/mL, apparent terminal half-life ~15 h, with plasma levels measurable to ~96 h post-dose (FDA pharmacokinetics, n=12). Injected/bolus free peptide: peak plasma at ~1-2 h with an elimination half-life of ~30 minutes; the Nle4/D-Phe7 modifications prolong biological (melanogenic) activity well beyond plasma clearance. vs Short (topical application, no systemic absorption at cosmetic doses)), and typical dose range.
Which has the longer half-life, Melanotan I or Acetyl Hexapeptide-8?
Melanotan I has a half-life of Controlled-release subcutaneous implant (Scenesse): high inter-subject variability; median Tmax ~36 h, mean Cmax ~3.7 ng/mL, apparent terminal half-life ~15 h, with plasma levels measurable to ~96 h post-dose (FDA pharmacokinetics, n=12). Injected/bolus free peptide: peak plasma at ~1-2 h with an elimination half-life of ~30 minutes; the Nle4/D-Phe7 modifications prolong biological (melanogenic) activity well beyond plasma clearance.. Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 has a half-life of Short (topical application, no systemic absorption at cosmetic doses). Longer half-lives generally mean less frequent dosing but slower on/off kinetics.
Which is cheaper, Melanotan I or Acetyl Hexapeptide-8?
Lowest listed price on BodyHackGuide: Melanotan I from $35.00, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 from $129.00. Prices are pulled from the vendor listings tracked on BHG and change frequently. See the compare tables on each compound page for the current set of offers.
Can you stack Melanotan I and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8?
Stacking depends on mechanism overlap, safety profile, and goals. Melanotan I and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 should only be stacked after reviewing each compound's individual protocol page, side effect profile, and any published interaction data. Use the BodyHackGuide stack builder for a structured review before combining research compounds.
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Research use only. BodyHackGuide is a research and price-comparison reference. The compounds discussed on this page are not approved by the FDA for human consumption and are sold strictly for laboratory research. Prices shown are pulled from vendor listings tracked on BHG and are subject to change. Every vendor is ranked on the same public, reproducible methodology. See editorial standards and affiliate disclosure.