Melanotan II

An unapproved tanning peptide with a concerning safety story: mole darkening, blood-pressure effects, nausea, and priapism. Afamelanotide (Scenesse) is the related approved medicine for a rare light-intolerance disease — it is not the same as gray-market MT-II.

A cyclic melanocortin agonist (MC1R, MC4R, others). MC1R drives melanogenesis (tanning); MC4R contributes to appetite and sexual-arousal effects — which is why PT-141 was split out of this chemistry.

Early human studies showed pigmentation and sexual-arousal effects. No modern development program for cosmetic tanning. Dermatology case reports document changing nevi and other pigment events after unregulated use.

Not FDA-approved. Afamelanotide (Scenesse) is approved for erythropoietic protoporphyria — a different peptide, a different indication. MT-II is a research chemical and a common underground tanning product.

Not approved for tanning. Afamelanotide (Scenesse) is a related, different peptide approved for erythropoietic protoporphyria through a REMS-like specialty path — it is not MT-II. Grey-market tanning injections are the unofficial channel and are unsafe.

Same four pathways as the Sourcing guide.

Scenesse may be covered for EPP as a specialty rare-disease drug. MT-II is never covered.

One of the longest-running underground peptide markets (tanning, 'holiday tan'). Nasal sprays and vials. Dermatology case reports of changing nevi followed this market, not a trial.

Strand does not list vendors. See the grey market.

Nausea, flushing, appetite change, spontaneous erections/priapism, blood-pressure shifts, and nevus darkening. Melanoma risk is a live clinical worry when nevi change. Unregulated vials add infection and dosing risk.

• Nausea, flushing, appetite change, spontaneous erections/priapism.
• Blood-pressure shifts. Nevus darkening; melanoma risk is a live clinical worry.
• Unregulated vials add infection and unknown dose.
• Afamelanotide is not a cosmetic substitute you can order as MT-II.

• Dorr et al. · 1996 · Life Sci

  Evaluation of melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide, in a pilot phase-I study. PMID 8761332.

• Dermatology case series

  Nevus change and pigment events after unregulated tanning-peptide use.

• Scenesse contrast

  Approved afamelanotide for EPP is not MT-II.