Melanotan II – 10mg

Melanotan II is a synthetic peptide analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), a naturally occurring hormone that regulates skin pigmentation, energy balance, and sexual function. Developed in the 1980s at the University of Arizona, it is a non-selective agonist of melanocortin receptors (MC1, MC3, MC4, MC5). While initially explored for sunless tanning and erectile dysfunction,

Primary Uses of Melanotan II

• Skin Tanning (Cosmetic):

  • Melanotan II stimulates melanocytes via the MC1 receptor to increase eumelanin production, leading to skin darkening without UV exposure.

  • Users report noticeable tanning within days to weeks at doses of 0.025 mg/kg (e.g., 1-2 mg daily for a 70 kg person), often starting with lower doses (0.1-0.5 mg) to assess tolerance.

  • Studies suggest it may produce a photoprotective tan, but there’s no conclusive evidence it prevents skin cancer, and UV exposure is still required for optimal results in some cases.

• Erectile Dysfunction (Off-Label):

  • Acts on MC4 receptors in the brain and spinal cord to induce spontaneous erections in men with psychogenic erectile dysfunction.

  • Clinical trials (e.g., Wessells et al., 1998) showed erections in 8 of 10 men at 0.025 mg/kg, lasting ~38 minutes on average, with effects starting 1-5 hours post-injection.

  • Not approved for this use; its metabolite, bremelanotide, is preferred for sexual dysfunction (e.g., Vyleesi for women).

• Appetite Suppression (Experimental):

  • Via MC4 receptor activation, Melanotan II may reduce hunger and food intake, as observed in animal studies and anecdotal human reports.

  • Limited human data exists, and this effect is not clinically validated.

Potential Off-Label Uses:

• Explored in research for reducing compulsive behaviors (e.g., in autism mouse models) and modulating energy homeostasis, but human applications are unproven.

• Anecdotal claims include enhanced libido in both men and women, though evidence is sparse beyond erectile effects in males.

How It Works

• Melanocortin Receptor Agonism:

  • MC1: Stimulates melanin production, darkening skin and hair.

  • MC4: Influences appetite, sexual arousal, and erectile function.

  • MC3/MC5: Lesser-known roles in energy regulation and inflammation.

  • Its cyclic structure enhances potency and duration (~36-48 hour half-life) compared to α-MSH or Melanotan I (afamelanotide).

• Mechanism:

  • Mimics α-MSH, binding melanocortin receptors to trigger pigmentation and neurological effects.

  • Skin darkening occurs via increased eumelanin, while sexual effects stem from central nervous system activation.

  • Appetite suppression likely results from hypothalamic signaling, though mechanisms are not fully elucidated in humans.