Melanotan I vs Melanotan II
Same tan, different side effects. Which melanotan is which?
Reviewed by the amino101 editorial team. , first published .
Both melanotans are synthetic versions of alpha-MSH, the hormone that tells skin to make pigment. Melanotan I, afamelanotide, is selective for the melanocortin 1 receptor, which is the one on skin cells, and it is an approved implant in Europe and the US for a rare light-sensitivity disorder. Melanotan II is a shorter, more potent analog that hits several melanocortin receptors at once, including the ones that control appetite and sexual arousal. That is why MT-II tans faster and also causes nausea, flushing, spontaneous erections, and appetite loss, and why PT-141 was developed from it.
| Melanotan-1 | Melanotan-2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical dosage | 0.5 to 1 mg | 0.25 to 1 mg |
| Frequency | daily during loading, then 1 to 2 times weekly to maintain | daily during loading, then 1 to 2 times weekly |
| Route | Subcutaneous | Subcutaneous, Intranasal |
| Half-life | about 30 minutes in plasma; the Scenesse implant releases the peptide over days | about 1 hour |
| Cycle | 2 to 4 week loading phase, then maintenance as desired | 2 to 3 week loading phase, then maintenance as desired |
| Research level | Extensively studied | Limited research |
| Human trials | Approved drug | Small pilots |
| Status | FDA approved (Scenesse implant) for erythropoietic protoporphyria; injectable form not approved, sold as a research peptide | Investigational, not FDA approved; regulators in several countries have issued warnings against its sale |
| Effects timeline | first darkening 1 to 2 weeks, full shade 3 to 4 weeks with some UV exposure | nausea and flushing within an hour of the first doses, visible darkening within 1 to 2 weeks, full tan in 2 to 3 weeks |
Key differences
Melanotan-1 vs Melanotan-2 dosage
Dosage patterns reported in research and community protocols, by goal. Taken from each compound page. Not a prescription.
| Goal | Dosage | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Loading, first week | 0.5 mg | once daily |
| Loading, after nausea check | 1 mg | once daily |
| Fair or sensitive skin | 0.5 mg | every other day |
| Maintenance | 0.5 to 1 mg | 1 to 2 times weekly |
| Goal | Dosage | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Nausea test, first days | 0.25 mg | once daily |
| Loading, typical | 0.5 mg | once daily |
| Loading, high tolerance | 1 mg | once daily |
| Maintenance | 0.5 to 1 mg | 1 to 2 times weekly |
Convert any of these to syringe units in the dosage calculator.
Side effects compared
- ▲Mild nausea and flushing after injection, much less than with melanotan-2
- ▲Darkening of existing moles and freckles
- ▲New freckles or moles appearing
- ▲Uneven pigmentation, especially on the face, scars, and sun damaged skin
- ▲Occasional headache or fatigue
- ▲Nausea and sometimes vomiting, nearly universal for the first several doses
- ▲Flushing and facial redness
- ▲Darkening of moles and freckles, and new moles appearing
- ▲Spontaneous erections and increased libido
- ▲Reduced appetite
Which should you choose?
Melanotan I is the better fit for anyone who wants a tan and nothing else. It is selective for the skin receptor, has approval history as the Scenesse implant, and causes much less nausea. Reported loading is 0.5 to 1 mg daily, then once or twice weekly.
Melanotan II is for people who want faster, deeper color and are fine with the libido, appetite and nausea effects that come with hitting four melanocortin receptors. It is cheaper and more common on the grey market. Protocols start at 0.25 mg to test nausea and dose in the evening.
If the goal is a tan with the fewest surprises, Melanotan I is the better compound and the one with real safety data behind it. Melanotan II is what most of the grey market sells because it is cheaper and works faster, but the receptor promiscuity is exactly what causes the side effects people complain about. Either way, both darken existing moles and can reveal new ones. Get a skin check before starting and again after a cycle, and do not use either if you have a history of melanoma.
Stacking: Not stacked together. Both are usually paired with modest UV exposure, since the tan still needs some sun to develop.
Melanotan-1 is a stabilized analog of the natural tanning hormone alpha-MSH that darkens skin by stimulating melanin production. It is approved as an implant called Scenesse for a rare light sensitivity disorder and is used off-label for tanning and sun protection with fewer side effects than melanotan-2.
Melanotan-2 is a cyclic alpha-MSH analog that darkens skin quickly and also boosts libido and suppresses appetite because it hits several melanocortin receptors at once. It is the most widely used tanning peptide and the one with the most side effects.
Melanotan I vs Melanotan II: frequently asked
Which is safer, Melanotan 1 or Melanotan 2?
Melanotan I. It has real safety data from the afamelanotide approval program and far fewer off target effects. Both darken moles and both have been linked to case reports of changing moles, so neither is risk free for skin cancer, and the injectable powder sold online is unregulated in either case.
Does Melanotan 1 increase libido?
No, or not noticeably. The libido effect of Melanotan II comes from MC4R in the brain, and Melanotan I has little activity there. If you want the sexual effect without the tan, PT-141 was developed for exactly that; see PT-141 vs Melanotan II.
Can you switch from Melanotan 2 to Melanotan 1?
Yes, and some people do: MT-II for a fast loading phase, then MT-I for gentler maintenance. Reported doses are similar, 0.5 to 1 mg for MT-I and 0.25 to 1 mg for MT-II, but MT-I needs more sessions to build the same shade.
Do you still need sun with melanotan?
Yes. Both raise melanin production but the tan develops with UV exposure; a few short sessions per week during loading is the usual pattern. Neither replaces sunscreen.
Why is Melanotan 2 banned in some countries?
Regulators in the UK, Australia and several EU countries have warned against its sale because of the side effects, the lack of safety data, and the documented mole changes. It has never been approved anywhere. Melanotan I is approved only as an implant for a rare light sensitivity disorder, not as an injectable tanning product.
Related reading
The libido peptide was discovered inside the tanning peptide. Which one do you want?
Guide
Safety
Safety
Sources
- Afamelanotide for erythropoietic protoporphyria. New England Journal of Medicine, 2015
- Melanotan-II, a cyclic alpha-MSH analog, induces tanning in human volunteers. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 1996