Melanotan I

Melanotan 1 stimulates melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells in the skin, to increase production of eumelanin, the brown-black form of melanin.

This can:

• Increase skin pigmentation

• Produce a darker or more noticeable tan

• Increase eumelanin production

• Support the skin's natural response to UV exposure

• Increase pigmentation with less UV exposure

Melanin provides some natural protection against UV radiation, but Melanotan 1 does not replace sunscreen or other sun-protection measures.

SKIN PIGMENTATION

• Increased melanin production

• Darker skin pigmentation

• Enhanced tanning response

• Longer-lasting pigmentation

PHOTOPROTECTION

Eumelanin helps absorb and disperse UV radiation.

Research has investigated Melanotan 1 for:

• Increasing natural photoprotection

• Reducing sensitivity to sunlight

• Increasing tolerance to light exposure

• Reducing UV-related skin stress

Although their names are similar, they are different peptides.

Melanotan 1 primarily focuses on MC1R-mediated pigmentation and has been developed medically as afamelanotide.

Melanotan 2 has broader melanocortin receptor activity and is associated with additional effects beyond pigmentation.

• Nausea

• Facial flushing

• Headache or dizziness

• Increased skin pigmentation

• Darkening of freckles and existing moles

• Injection-site reactions

Changes in existing moles or the development of new pigmented lesions should be medically evaluated.

An FDA-approved form of afamelanotide exists as the Scenesse controlled-release implant for EPP.

Other injectable or compounded products marketed as “Melanotan 1” for tanning are not the FDA-approved Scenesse product, and their quality, safety, and effectiveness should not be assumed to be equivalent.