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Skin & Hairapproved

Melanotan I

Afamelanotide
Skin & Hair
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Category
Skin & Hair
Evidence grade
A
PubMed records
121
Female-tagged
23
Sex-analysis
0
CAS
—
A
Evidence grade A, Approved indication with 23 indexed studies that included female subjects. How grades work →
Female evidence: Extrapolated
Melanotan I: of 121 PubMed records, 23 are tagged as including female subjects and 0 carry a sex-analysis tag.Counts reflect PubMed records as of 2026-07-21. “Female” uses the Female MeSH filter and “sex-analysis” the Sex Factors MeSH filter, automated proxies pending manual study-level review. Methodology →

Overview

Melanotan I is a synthetic analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) with selectivity for the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R). Its stabilized structure gives it a research-friendly profile as a tool compound for isolating MC1R-driven signaling within the broader melanocortin system.

In vitro and in preclinical systems, Melanotan I has been studied for its relationship to eumelanin synthesis and melanogenesis, the pigmentation pathways downstream of MC1R activation. Researchers examining pigment biology have used it as a research material to characterize receptor-selective melanocortin signaling in skin and melanocyte models.

What makes Melanotan I a useful entry for a pigmentation research catalog is its comparatively focused receptor preference, which allows MC1R mechanisms to be studied with less confounding from other melanocortin receptors. Whether these mechanisms translate to female physiology remains an open research question; our evidence review tracks how many of the underlying studies included women.

Summary

Melanotan I is an MC1-receptor-selective analog of alpha-MSH. As afamelanotide (Scenesse), it is an FDA- and EMA-approved implant for preventing phototoxicity in erythropoietic protoporphyria; the same peptide is used unapproved for cosmetic tanning, where safety (including melanoma risk) is not established.

Evidence in women

Menstrual cycle
Unstudied
Pigmentation can shift with hormonal state, but afamelanotide has not been studied across menstrual cycle phases.
Pregnancy & lactation
Unstudied
Not established in pregnancy or lactation; hormonal changes of pregnancy already affect pigmentation independently.
Hormonal interactions
Unstudied
No controlled data on interactions with estrogen or contraceptives.
Perimenopause & menopause
Unstudied
No perimenopausal or menopausal data.
Sex differences
Unstudied
EPP trials enrolled women, but outcomes were not analyzed by sex.

Mechanism

Activates the melanocortin-1 receptor on melanocytes to stimulate eumelanin synthesis.

Reported dosing & routes

◐

We don't give dosing or medical advice. The figures below describe what was used in published research, not a recommendation. Decide with your clinician.

Reported range (literature)Afamelanotide is given as a 16 mg subcutaneous implant per approved label (EPP); cosmetic dosing is unregulated and not a recommendation.
Routessubcutaneous
Female-specific dosingNot established

Contraindications: personal history of melanoma or pigmented-lesion risk (theoretical, pigment-stimulating)

Side effects

Reported in the research literature. Sex-specific incidence has not been separately analysed in the available records.

nauseafacial flushingdarkening of moles/frecklesimplant-site reactions

Melanotan I reconstitution calculator

Enter this vial's amount, the bacteriostatic water you add, and a target amount to get the concentration and the U-100 syringe units to draw. Handling arithmetic for research use, not a dose recommendation.

Reconstitution

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Draw for Melanotan I

5
units on a U-100 insulin syringe
020406080100
U-100 insulin syringe — 1 mL = 100 units
That's 0.05 mL drawn to the 5-unit mark.
Concentration5 mg/mL (5,000 mcg/mL)
Volume to draw0.05 mL
Doses per vial40

Reference chart at 5 mg/mL

Target amountVolume (mL)U-100 units
100 mcg0.02 mL2
250 mcg0.05 mL5
500 mcg0.1 mL10
750 mcg0.15 mL15
1000 mcg0.2 mL20

Research-use arithmetic only. This tool converts a vial amount, diluent volume, and a target amount into a concentration and syringe draw for laboratory handling. It is not dosing guidance, a recommendation, or a claim of safety or efficacy, and it does not account for overfill, dead space, or peptide purity. Nothing here is medical advice. “U-100” means 100 units = 1 mL; confirm your syringe graduation before measuring. See the reconstitution & storage handbook for handling detail.

Frequently asked questions

Answers drawn only from Melanotan I's research facts and, where reviewed, its sex-disaggregated evidence. Nothing here is medical advice, dosing, or a claim of safety or efficacy.

What is Melanotan I?

Melanotan I, also known as Afamelanotide, is a research compound in our skin hair category. Melanotan I is an MC1-receptor-selective analog of alpha-MSH.

Is Melanotan I studied in women?

Melanotan I: of 121 PubMed records, 23 are tagged as including female subjects and 0 carry a sex-analysis tag. We grade this extrapolated: women appear in the record, but no study is tagged for a sex-specific analysis, so female-relevant conclusions are inferred from mixed or male data rather than measured in women. See our methodology.

Has Melanotan I been studied during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Unstudied. Not established in pregnancy or lactation; hormonal changes of pregnancy already affect pigmentation independently. This is not a safety clearance or a recommendation. Vera, our research chat, deliberately hard-stops on pregnancy, breastfeeding, and trying-to-conceive questions rather than answer them.

What evidence grade does Melanotan I have, and why?

Melanotan I carries evidence grade A. Approved indication with 23 indexed studies that included female subjects.. Grades are derived from the research record, never hand-assigned; see how grades work.

Is there a female-specific dose for Melanotan I?

No. A female-specific dose for Melanotan I is not established, and this site does not provide dosing or medical advice. Any figures we show describe what published research used, not a recommendation. Decide anything about use with a qualified clinician.

How is Melanotan I administered in research?

In the published literature, Melanotan I is administered via subcutaneous. Reported dose ranges on the Dosing tab describe what studies used for laboratory research, not a protocol for people. We don't provide dosing.

What side effects have been reported for Melanotan I?

Effects reported in the research literature include nausea, facial flushing, darkening of moles/freckles, implant-site reactions. Sex-specific incidence has not been separately analysed in the available records, so these are not broken out for women.

How should Melanotan I be stored and handled?

Melanotan I sold for research is supplied as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder. Lyophilized peptides are generally kept cold and dry, at roughly -20°C for longer-term storage and 2-8°C short-term, protected from light. Once reconstituted they are typically refrigerated and used within a short window, avoiding repeated freeze-thaw cycles. This is general laboratory handling for research use only, not a directive for human use. Always follow the handling and purity details on the product's Certificate of Analysis.

Where can I buy Melanotan I for research?

For laboratory research use, Melanotan I is available from our research-use partner, Aurevena Research. Applying code research15 takes 15% off. We may earn a commission when you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you. Products are for laboratory research use only.

Buy Melanotan I at Aurevena Research
Research-use supplier: Melanotan I is available from our research-use vendor for laboratory use. Code research15 for 15% off, applied automatically at checkout. We may earn a commission when you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you. Products are for laboratory research use only.
Buy now →

Citations (PMID)

36902341 · 38139134

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Educational information for laboratory and research use only. Not medical advice, a recommendation, or a claim of safety or efficacy; no personal dosing. “Unstudied” means no qualifying study was found, not that a compound is safe or unsafe.