Pricing & Sizes
Ships sealed and lyophilized — stable for years at room temperature, supplied as lyophilised powder. Free shipping on every order, no minimum. Every batch ships with its lab report. Reports come from third-party labs including Janoshik, Freedom Diagnostics and Chromate, most verifiable through the lab's own public portal. Ask and we will send the report for your batch.
Lab report on file. Current batch tested by Janoshik — HPLC. Verifiable through the lab's public portal; ask and we will send it.
Reconstitution — bacteriostatic water: 10mg vial reconstituted at 2mL gives 5mg/mL. These are concentrations, calculated from vial content and diluent volume. They describe the solution, not a dose.
Email To OrderIn Plain English
Your body tans by making melanin, and it does that when a hormone called α-MSH activates a receptor on your pigment cells. Melanotan I mimics that hormone, so pigment production increases without requiring the UV exposure that normally triggers it. The important caveat is that the receptor being activated sits on all melanocytes, including any that are already abnormal.
What people use it for. Tanning with less sun exposure, and photoprotection for people who burn easily.
What to know before you buy. Read the safety box above properly, because this is not a generic disclaimer. This compound works by switching on your pigment cells, and it cannot tell a healthy pigment cell from an abnormal one. If you have had a melanoma, have unusual or numerous moles, or have significant sun damage, this is a conversation for a dermatologist before anything else. Anyone using it should have a baseline skin check and keep an eye on existing moles.
What It's Studied For
| Research area | What that rests on |
|---|---|
| UV-independent pigmentation | MC1R activation stimulates melanin production independently of UV exposure |
| Photoprotection | Its approved counterpart, afamelanotide, is licensed for a rare light-sensitivity disorder |
| Fewer side effects than MT-II | More MC1R-selective, so minimal sexual, appetite, and nausea effects |
The left column lists the research areas this compound is investigated in; the right column states what that rests on. These are published research findings, not proven outcomes or treatment claims, and nothing here is a recommendation. Sold for laboratory research use only.
At a Glance
- Class
- Synthetic analogue of α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH)
- Mechanism
- MC1R agonist — stimulates melanin production in melanocytes, increasing pigmentation independently of UV exposure
- Approved counterpart
- Afamelanotide is approved as Scenesse for erythropoietic protoporphyria, a rare light-sensitivity disorder
- Selectivity
- More MC1R-selective than Melanotan II, which is why it lacks the pronounced sexual and appetite effects of MT-II
- Regulatory (US)
- Research-grade material is not FDA-approved. Not on the July 2026 PCAC agenda
- Format
- 10mg vial
Important safety consideration — read first
MC1R activation stimulates melanocytes, and it does not distinguish between normal and abnormal melanocytes. Anyone with a personal or family history of melanoma, atypical or dysplastic naevi, or significant sun damage should regard this as a specific contraindication to discuss with a dermatologist before use — not a general caution. Melanotan use has also been associated in case reports with changes in existing moles. Baseline and periodic full-skin examination by a dermatologist is the appropriate standard for anyone considering this compound.
MT-I vs MT-II
| Melanotan I (afamelanotide) | Melanotan II | |
|---|---|---|
| Selectivity | More MC1R-selective | Broader melanocortin activity, including MC3R and MC4R |
| Sexual effects | Minimal | Pronounced, including reported spontaneous erections |
| Appetite | Minimal effect | Appetite suppression commonly reported |
| Nausea | Less commonly reported | Commonly reported, particularly on early doses |
| Clinical counterpart | Approved as Scenesse | None approved anywhere |
MT-I’s selectivity is the reason it is generally considered the more predictable of the two. Both share the melanocyte activation concern.
What the Evidence Supports
Afamelanotide’s approval for erythropoietic protoporphyria rests on controlled trials in that specific rare disorder, where increased pigmentation provides genuine photoprotection. That is a real, regulator-reviewed evidence base — but it is a narrow one, and it does not extend to cosmetic tanning in healthy adults, which has not been studied to the same standard.
Long-term safety data for cosmetic use specifically does not exist at any meaningful scale. Given that the mechanism directly stimulates the cell type involved in melanoma, that absence is the material gap rather than an incidental one.
The bottom line
The more selective and predictable of the two melanotans, with a genuine approved counterpart in a rare disease indication. The melanocyte activation mechanism means skin history is not a footnote here — it is the primary screening question, and a dermatologist rather than a supplier is the right person to answer it.
Also in the Range
Compare with Melanotan-II, which is stronger but far less selective — broader effects and a wider side effect profile including priapism risk.