Melanotan-1
Skin & hair Approved · EU & US Human trials
Also called Afamelanotide, Scenesse, MT-1
A 13-amino-acid synthetic version of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. It activates the MC1 receptor on pigment cells, increasing protective dark melanin in the skin without sun exposure.
Why people take it
What studies report
- Increased pain-free sun exposure time in people with erythropoietic protoporphyria
- Darker skin pigment without UV exposure
In practice Off-label
- Used for tanning outside its approved indication, though less than Melanotan-2
Reported real-world use, not evidence and not a recommendation.
Worth knowing: Approved only as a controlled implant for a rare disorder; it darkens existing moles, which complicates skin cancer screening.
Status: Approved in the EU and US as an implant (Scenesse) for the light-sensitivity disorder erythropoietic protoporphyria.
- Route
- Subcutaneous injection, from reconstituted lyophilised powder
- Sequence
- Ac-Ser-Tyr-Ser-Nle-Glu-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val-NH2
- Formula
- C78H111N21O19
- Molecular weight
- 1646.8 g/mol
- CAS
- 75921-69-6
- Available as
- 10 mg
Educational information only. Nothing here is medical advice, a dosing protocol, or a recommendation to use any compound. Most entries describe substances not approved for human use. Talk to a licensed clinician before acting on anything you read here. How to read these entries.