LifeTank a Physician Assistant Co.

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(951) 593-2747

Address:

1044 Cherry Valley Blvd. Ste. 430. Calimesa, CA 92320

Melanotan I

Melanotan I

Pigmentation / melanocortin

Afamelanotide, Scenesse, NDP-MSH, [Nle⁴,D-Phe⁷]-α-MSH (CUV1647)
FDA-approved drug Moderate-caution

Status & caution. The regulated form, afamelanotide (Scenesse), is FDA-approved (2019) for a rare disease — increasing pain-free light exposure in adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) — and is given as a clinician-implanted, controlled-release implant. The grey-market 'Melanotan I' that people inject for tanning is the SAME molecule but an unapproved, unregulated product used off-label. Same chemistry, very different supply chain and oversight. More MC1R-selective and generally better tolerated than Melanotan II, but melanocortin-driven tanning still demands skin/mole monitoring; the approved label itself calls for twice-yearly skin exams.

At a glance

Molecular formula
C₇₈H₁₁₁N₂₁O₁₉
Molecular weight
≈1,646.9 g/mol
Sequence / structure
Tridecapeptide (13 aa) α-MSH analogue: Ac-Ser-Tyr-Ser-Nle-Glu-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val-NH₂. A selective MC1R agonist.
Regulatory status
FDA-approved drug

Indications & what it's studied for

Approved: photoprotection in EPP by stimulating eumelanin. Grey-market: cosmetic tanning. Acts mainly on the MC1R melanocortin receptor.

Contraindications & cautions

History of melanoma or atypical/changing moles; the approved product mandates regular full-body skin exams. Hypersensitivity; pregnancy data limited.

Commonly reported dosing

Reported, not recommended. The following describes what appears in research literature and community use. It is not a protocol, and unapproved peptides have no validated human dosing.

The approved product is a fixed 16 mg implant placed by a clinician roughly every two months. Grey-market injectable 'tanning' dosing is unvalidated and varies widely.

Routes of administration

Approved: subcutaneous biodegradable implant (clinician-administered). Grey-market: subcutaneous injection.

Don't combine with

Other melanocortin agonists (Melanotan II, PT-141) — additive effects; photosensitising drugs warrant caution.

Reported to stack with

No legitimate stacking; combining melanocortins increases side-effect risk.
Note: "stacking" combines multiple agents and multiplies unknowns; popularity of a combination is not evidence of its safety.

What the research actually shows

FDA approval rests on randomised placebo-controlled trials in EPP showing more pain-free light exposure, plus long-term registry data. Cosmetic tanning use is not supported by that approval.

Before acting on anything here, see Safety & the grey market and how to read a COA.

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