Melanotan 1 vs Melanotan 2
How they differ on evidence quality, dosing schedule, half-life and cost.
| Melanotan 1 | Melanotan 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence grade | BHuman trials, not approved for this use | DNo completed human trials |
| Studied for | Tanning and pigmentation peptide | Tanning, libido and pigmentation peptide |
| Half-life | Not well characterized in humans | Not well characterized in humans |
| Schedule | Daily while loading, then a few times weekly | Daily while loading, then a few times weekly |
| Amount in research | 0.5–1 mg, 1–2× weekly | 0.5–1 mg, 2–3× weekly |
| Vial sizes sold | 10 mg | 10 mg |
| Cost | $3.22 per dose | $1.95 per dose |
Melanotan 1 has the stronger evidence base, graded B against D. Approved as Scenesse, but as a sustained-release implant rather than the injectable form sold for research. Melanotan 2 sits lower because: No approval and no controlled trials. Human evidence is case reports and small pharmacology studies. That is a wide gap, not a close call. Anything said about Melanotan 2 in people is far more provisional than what can be said about Melanotan 1.
An evidence grade describes how strong the research is, and it is not a safety rating or a recommendation. A higher grade on an approved drug does not make a research-use version of it approved.
Melanotan 1
Melanotan 1 is an analog of alpha-MSH, the hormone that tells skin cells to make more melanin. By activating the melanocortin 1 receptor it increases pigment, which is protective against UV damage. Its regulated cousin, afamelanotide, is approved as a slow release implant for a rare light sensitivity disorder. Loose injectable research material is a different, unapproved product.
Melanotan 2
Melanotan 2 is a broader melanocortin agonist than Melanotan 1. Beyond boosting skin pigment through the melanocortin 1 receptor, it also hits receptors tied to appetite and sexual function, which is why it is linked to reduced appetite and to arousal effects in a related compound. It is not an approved product.
Melanotan 1
- Studied for increased pain-free sun exposure in erythropoietic protoporphyria.
- Stimulates eumelanin production through melanocortin-1 receptor activation.
- May improve quality of life for people with this light-sensitivity disorder.
- Studied for skin darkening as a photoprotective response.
Melanotan 2
- Studied for skin tanning through melanocortin receptor activation.
- May increase erectile response and libido via central melanocortin pathways.
- Explored in early research for appetite and body-weight effects.
- Related molecules informed the approved drug bremelanotide for sexual dysfunction.
Melanotan 1
- Nausea, headache and fatigue reported in trials.
- Generalized skin darkening and darkening of existing moles.
- Implant-site reactions from the subcutaneous delivery.
- Long-term monitoring of pigmented lesions is advised.
Melanotan 2
- Nausea, flushing and spontaneous erections are frequently reported.
- Darkening of moles and new pigmented lesions, with melanoma reported in case reports.
- Blood-pressure and heart-rate changes described.
- Unregulated products carry contamination and dosing risks.
Which has better evidence, Melanotan 1 or Melanotan 2?
Melanotan 1, graded B against D. Approved as Scenesse, but as a sustained-release implant rather than the injectable form sold for research.
How do the dosing schedules differ?
Melanotan 1: Daily while loading, then a few times weekly. Melanotan 2: Daily while loading, then a few times weekly.
How do their half-lives compare?
Melanotan 1: Not well characterized in humans. Melanotan 2: Not well characterized in humans. Half-life is what the dosing frequency follows from.
Which costs more to run?
Melanotan 1 works out at about $4.30 per mg and Melanotan 2 at about $3.90 per mg at list price, but the amounts used differ, so compare cost per dose rather than per vial. Price is not a quality signal.
Can Melanotan 1 and Melanotan 2 be studied together?
Some research protocols pair compounds and some do not. There is no combined trial data for this pairing on file here, so treat any stacking claim you read elsewhere as untested.
Melanotan 1
Tanning and pigmentation peptideA tanning peptide studied for a deeper, more even tan.
BHuman trials, not approved for this useMelanotan 2
Tanning, libido and pigmentation peptideA tanning peptide also studied for libido and appetite.
DNo completed human trials