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.
Evidence at a glance
- Evidence
- Human trials — Studied in people
- Status
- An approved medicine in EU & US
- Dosing
- A dose has been tested in humans
Approved only as a controlled implant for a rare disorder; it darkens existing moles, which complicates skin cancer screening.
What studies report
- Increased pain-free sun exposure time in people with erythropoietic protoporphyria
- Darker skin pigment without UV exposure
How it works
Activates the MC1 receptor on pigment cells, increasing production of eumelanin — the dark, UV-absorbing form of melanin — without any sun exposure.
Where it acts
Acts in the skin, throughout the bodyThe library groups this compound under Skin & hair. The diagram shows that target, not every tissue it reaches.
Illustrated
AI-generated subject illustration; not a depiction of the compound or evidence of its effects.
Why people take it
Reasons people seek it out — not a list of proven effects.
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.
Dosing
What was tested Evidence
- 16 mg implant every 2 monthsPhase 3 in erythropoietic protoporphyria→ Increased pain-free sun exposure time
What people report using Not evidence
- The approved product is a controlled implant, not a self-dosed injection
Reported for reference, not as instruction. Nothing here is a recommendation to take anything, and most of these compounds are not approved for human use.
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
Search PubMed for Melanotan-1 → We link a live search rather than a fixed citation list, so it stays current and nothing here is a reference we have not checked.
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.