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Longevity Category
Afamelanotide, MT-I, MT-1, Melanotan-1, Scenesse
Melanotan I is a synthetic alpha-MSH analog that activates the MC1R pigment receptor. The same molecule, afamelanotide (Scenesse), is FDA-approved for erythropoietic protoporphyria, a rare light disorder, after controlled trials showed longer pain-free sun exposure. Gray-market tanning products are not Scenesse and lack such trials.
Based on what vendors sell, not a recommendation.
Injection
Sold as vials by 83 vendors
By mouth
Not sold by vendors we track
Nasal spray
Sold as sprays by 1 vendor
No prices to compare yet
FDA-approved uses existHow we review these guides20 research sources
This profile records Melanotan I as FDA approved. Approval can be specific to a formulation, indication, and prescribing context, so review the regulatory and source details on this page.
This guide links to 20 curated or current research sources. Inspect the research section and the citations beneath the research answers for their supporting sources.
Review the Melanotan I research sourcesReported side effects of Melanotan I include Implant-site reactions, Headache, Nausea, Nasopharyngitis, Back pain, Throat pain and cough, Fatigue, Skin darkening, Darkening of existing moles, Dizziness or drowsiness, Respiratory tract infection, and Skin irritation. They are reported or occasional reactions, not a prediction of what any one person will experience.
Human safety data come from Scenesse, the approved product. In trials for that disorder, participants most often reported headache, nausea, nasopharyngitis (common cold) and back pain. No controlled safety data exist for gray-market tanning products. Safety depends on dose, sourcing, health history and medical supervision, so this page does not call it safe for personal use.
In an observational study of Austrian patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), the share of patients with phototoxic reactions was lower on therapy, at 33%, compared with 88% before afamelanotide therapy. Melanotan-1 is also called afamelanotide, and in these same Austrian EPP patients treated with it, phototoxic burn tolerance time increased from a median of 15 minutes (IQR 10-25) to a median of 250 minutes (IQR 120-300) under therapy.
Melanotan-1, also called NDP-MSH or afamelanotide, is described as an α-MSH mimetic and a melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) ligand. In an animal study, treatment with NDP-MSH was reported to enhance MC1R, along with PSD95, GluA1 and PKA phosphorylation, and to attenuate LPS-induced depressive-like behaviors. Afamelanotide was described as an analogue of α-melanocyte stimulating hormone that activates the melanocortin-1 receptor, with protective properties shown largely in vitro.
In-stock prices from 80 vendors, checked Nov 8, 2026.
Market evidence
We found certificates from a few of the Melanotan I vendors we track. Based on the certificates our crawler found; vendors may publish more than we index. Research on this page describes the molecule. Vendor certificates concern particular market samples or batches; they do not change the research evidence or establish clinical safety, sterility, or suitability for use.
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