home / compounds / Melanotan I
Melanotan I
Afamelanotide, Scenesse
REC PPT-MELANOTAN-1 // REV 2026-10-04 // assessment changes are logged, never silent
Melanocortin agonist; the regulated version (afamelanotide) is approved for a rare condition.
What it is
An analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. Its regulated form, afamelanotide, is approved for erythropoietic protoporphyria.
What it does
Stimulates melanin production via melanocortin-1 receptor activation.
Does it work?
The approved indication is narrow and medically supervised. Unregulated cosmetic tanning use is a very different context, and dermatological bodies have raised concerns about mole changes and unmonitored use.
Claims vs data
Each marketing claim, tagged by what the evidence actually supports.
| Approved as afamelanotide for erythropoietic protoporphyria | supported |
| Increases tanning with less UV exposure | partially true |
| Safe for unsupervised cosmetic use | overreach |
Reference figures
Quoted from published reference material. These are not Peptuity recommendations.
molecular data — PubChem CID 16197727
The evidence, counted
Live counts from Europe PMC and ClinicalTrials.gov.
66 publications indexed, but only 2 randomised controlled trials and 0 registered interventional studies. Human evidence exists but is thin.
SRC // EUROPE PMC + CTGOV // "Melanotan I" // FETCHED 2026-10-04 // 66 RECORDS
Most-cited literature
-
[01]
The melanocortin pathway and control of appetite-progress and therapeutic implications
Baldini G, Phelan KD. · J Endocrinol 2019 · 210 citations · DOI 10.1530/joe-18-0596
-
[02]
The melanocortin pathway and energy homeostasis: From discovery to obesity therapy
Yeo GSH, Chao DHM, Siegert AM, Koerperich ZM, Ericson MD, Simonds SE, · Mol Metab 2021 · 182 citations · DOI 10.1016/j.molmet.2021.101206
-
[03]
Applications of hot-melt extrusion for drug delivery
Repka MA, Majumdar S, Kumar Battu S, Srirangam R, Upadhye SB. · Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2008 · 138 citations · DOI 10.1517/17425240802583421
-
[04]
UV signaling pathways within the skin
Chen H, Weng QY, Fisher DE. · J Invest Dermatol 2014 · 110 citations · DOI 10.1038/jid.2014.161
Common questions
How is Melanotan I different from Melanotan II?
Melanotan I is linear and relatively selective for the pigmentation receptor. Melanotan II is a smaller cyclic analogue hitting more receptor types, with more systemic effects — the two are routinely confused.
Is there a legitimate medical version?
Yes — afamelanotide (Scenesse), approved for erythropoietic protoporphyria as a supervised implant. That is a different context from cosmetic vials.
What do dermatologists warn about?
Changes in moles and pigmented lesions during unmonitored use. Any new or changing mole during use of a melanocortin agonist warrants medical review.