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Melanotan I

Status: FDA Approved
Evidence: Not graded on a research bench yet

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.

Reviewed 25 October 2026

01Overview

What Melanotan I is

Unlike Melanotan II (which is cyclic), Melanotan I is a linear peptide that is significantly more selective for MC1R over MC4R — making it a tanning/photoprotective agent with substantially less sexual and appetite-stimulating side effects. Afamelanotide was FDA-approved in October 2019 under the brand name Scenesse as an implant for erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), a rare photosensitivity disorder. Melanotan I is meaningfully different from Melanotan II in structure, selectivity, and side-effect profile and should not be confused with it.

How it works

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 than native alpha-MSH. It agonizes the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) on melanocytes; MC1R activation stimulates adenylyl cyclase, raising intracellular cAMP and activating protein kinase A (PKA), which in turn upregulates MITF and tyrosinase - the rate-limiting enzyme of melanogenesis - shifting pigment synthesis toward eumelanin (brown/black pigment) with or without UV exposure. This is the basis of its skin-darkening and photoprotective effects. Importantly, contrary to a widely repeated claim, Melanotan I is NOT MC1R-selective: NDP-alpha-MSH is a non-selective, superpotent agonist with nanomolar efficacy at every melanocortin receptor subtype except MC2R, meaning it also activates MC3R, MC4R and MC5R [PMID:9216831]. In practice it tends to cause fewer MC4R-mediated effects (spontaneous erections, heightened libido, pronounced nausea) than the cyclic analog Melanotan II - but this reflects Melanotan II's greater potency, metabolic stability and receptor residence rather than any true receptor selectivity of Melanotan I.

Benefits listed

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

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Investigated in research settings for photoprotection in UV-sensitive populations

02Research

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What the research shows

No research bench grades Melanotan I yet. Benches compare compounds people pair, with the evidence for each.

Key research findings

Melanotan I is the same molecule as afamelanotide (brand name Scenesse), which is FDA-approved (October 2019) for erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP). Approval was based on two multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of a 16 mg controlled-release subcutaneous implant given every 60 days (Langendonk et al., N Engl J Med 2015; U.S. study n=94, E.U. study n=74). In the U.S. study, median pain-free direct-sunlight exposure over 6 months was 69.4 hours with afamelanotide vs 40.8 hours with placebo (P=0.04); in the E.U. study over 9 months it was 6.0 vs 0.8 hours (P=0.005), with fewer phototoxic reactions (77 vs 146, P=0.04) and improved quality of life. Adverse events were mostly mild and serious events were not considered drug-related [PMID:26132941]. These efficacy and safety data apply to the implant used for EPP. There are NO controlled human trials supporting injectable 'Melanotan I' powder for cosmetic tanning; that use is research-use-only, and its long-term safety - including effects on moles/nevi and any melanoma risk - has not been established.

Safety and 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 with the Scenesse implant. New or changing pigmented lesions warrant prompt dermatologic evaluation. In the pivotal EPP implant trials, serious adverse events were not considered related to the drug [PMID:26132941]. Long-term safety of chronic melanocortin stimulation from injectable use is not established.

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03Safety

Melanotan I side effects and interactions

Side effects

Common

Nausea (typically milder and less frequent than with Melanotan II)
Facial flushing
Headache
Fatigue
Skin hyperpigmentation; darkening of existing moles, freckles and nevi

Serious events

Darkening or change in appearance of moles/nevi - requires baseline and periodic full-skin dermatologic monitoring
Long-term safety of chronic melanocortin stimulation, including any effect on melanoma risk, is not established
In the pivotal EPP implant trials serious adverse events were not considered drug-related [PMID:26132941]

Interactions

Not in our record

Our record lists no interactions for Melanotan I. That means none are recorded here, not that none exist.

This interaction data is compiled from published research and community reports. It may not be exhaustive. Always consult a healthcare professional before combining compounds.

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04Dosing

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Melanotan I dosage and protocols

Dose range: 16 mg
Dosing: Every 1 to 4 weeks
Common vials: 5mg, 10mg

Dosing summary

Dose: 16 mg
Route: Subcutaneous, Intramuscular
Frequency: Every 1 to 4 weeks

FDA-approved regimen (Scenesse/afamelanotide): one 16 mg controlled-release implant placed subcutaneously every 60 days for EPP [PMID:26132941]. Injectable 'Melanotan I' powder used for cosmetic tanning is research-use-only and has not been studied for that purpose; community protocols commonly use ~0.5-1 mg subcutaneously per dose during a short loading phase, then reduce to less frequent maintenance once desired pigmentation is reached. Note that Melanotan I is a linear alpha-MSH analog and is generally less potent per milligram for tanning than the cyclic Melanotan II, so it is typically dosed at similar or higher amounts, not lower. RUO: no injectable-tanning dose has been established in controlled human trials.

Common vial sizes

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05Prices

Melanotan I prices

4 listings from 2 vendors, opening in the Featured order.

Pack prices: $35.00 to $54.99
Lowest per mg: $3.50/mg
Vendors: 2
Listings: 4 (vial, nasal)

Prices as the vendors list them, last recorded 7 September 2026.

Size

Form

Sort

Melanotan I listings, in Featured order
Vendor	Product	Price	Buy
Disguised Alpha	Melanotan 1 vial, 1 vial In stock	$39.99 No mg count	Buy Melanotan 1 at Disguised Alpha
Disguised Alpha	MT-1 Aerosol Kit nasal, aerosol kit In stock	$54.99 No mg count	Buy MT-1 Aerosol Kit at Disguised Alpha
Ion Peptide	Melanotan I 5mg vial, 1 vial Out of stock	$3.80/mg $19.00	View Melanotan I 5mg at Ion Peptide
Ion Peptide	Melanotan I 10mg vial, 1 vial In stock	$3.50/mg $35.00 Lowest per mg	Buy Melanotan I 10mg at Ion Peptide

Vendors selling Melanotan I(2: trust score, certificates, payment, shipping)

Ion Peptide2 listings, from $19.00

Trust Score 70/100, no certificate records on file, pays by card, crypto, ACH, ships to the US, international destinations
Disguised Alpha2 listings, from $39.99

Trust Score 50/100, 0 of 36 certificate records read, pays by card, crypto, bank transfer, ships to the US, the EU, the UK

Every supplier above is graded 0 to 100 on COA verification, payment transparency, shipping, reviews, and active listings. Methodology published, no pay-to-rank. How we score these vendors

Price history(2 days with a recorded price)

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06Chemistry

Chemistry and structure

Molecular mass: 1646.85 Da (C78H111N21O19; PubChem CID 16197727)
Amino acid sequence: Ac-Ser-Tyr-Ser-Nle-Glu-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val-NH2 ([Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH / NDP-alpha-MSH; 13-residue analog of alpha-MSH, N-acetylated with a C-terminal amide)
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.

08Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is Melanotan I used for in research?

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 cyclic), Melanotan I is a linear peptide that is significantly more selective for MC1R over MC4R — making it a tanning/photoprotective agent with substantially less sexual and appetite-stimulating side effects. Afamelanotide was FDA-approved in October 2019 under the brand name Scenesse as an implant for erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), a rare photosensitivity disorder. Melanotan I is meaningfully different from Melanotan II in structure, selectivity, and side-effect profile and should not be confused with it.

What forms does Melanotan I come in?

Melanotan I is available in vial, nasal forms.

How do I compare Melanotan I vendors?

Compare prices, payment methods, shipping, and COA scores across 2 vendors.

How many vendors sell Melanotan I, and what does it cost per mg?

2 of the vendors BodyHackGuide tracks list Melanotan I (4 listings). Among BodyHackGuide's Melanotan I listings recorded as in stock with a milligram count, the lowest price per milligram is $3.50/mg at Ion Peptide and the median is $3.50/mg. The Melanotan I prices on BodyHackGuide are vendors' listed prices as BodyHackGuide last recorded them, not transactions; the most recent recorded change to a Melanotan I listing is dated 7 September 2026.

Which vendors have third-party COAs for Melanotan I on file at BodyHackGuide?

BodyHackGuide holds 59 third-party certificate records for Melanotan I, from . No editor has read any of BodyHackGuide's 59 certificate records for Melanotan I. The laboratory named on BodyHackGuide's Melanotan I certificate records is Freedom Diagnostics Testing, and the newest test date on them is 2 October 2026. Each vendor page on BodyHackGuide shows how many certificate records BodyHackGuide holds for that vendor and links to each record that has its own page.

Lowest price per mg

$3.50/mg$35.00 for 10mg

at Ion Peptide, median $3.50/mg

Buy at Ion Peptide (opens the vendor's site in a new tab)

Spec sheet

Melanotan I

Half-life: Controlled-release subcutaneous implant (Scenesse): high inte...
Routes: Subcutaneous, Intramuscular
Molecular weight: 1646.85 g/mol (average
Also known as: 5 names

Afamelanotide, CUV1647, Scenesse, alpha-MSH analog, [Nle4,D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH (linear)

Articles on Melanotan I

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