What it is
MT-1, also called Melanotan 1 or afamelanotide, is a lab-made copy of a hormone your body already produces. That hormone tells your skin cells to make pigment, the substance that darkens your skin. The natural version breaks down in minutes, so it is not practical to use. MT-1 was developed at the University of Arizona in the 1980s to be more stable and more potent. Depending on the test used, it is roughly 10 to 1,000 times more potent than the natural hormone.
MT-1 is often confused with MT-2, but they are quite different. MT-2 acts on several targets at once, which is why it also affects appetite and sexual function. MT-1 focuses almost entirely on the target that controls skin colour. That makes it a more focused option for tanning with fewer extra effects.
In October 2019, MT-1 was approved by the FDA under the brand name Scenesse for a rare genetic condition called erythropoietic protoporphyria, where light causes extreme pain and burning. The approved product is a 16 mg implant placed under the skin that releases the peptide over about 60 days. The injectable research form used for tanning is not approved for any cosmetic use.
Melanotan 1 (afamelanotide) is a synthetic analogue of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), the pituitary-derived melanocortin that signals melanocytes to produce pigment. Native alpha-MSH degrades within minutes, so MT-1 was engineered at the University of Arizona in the 1980s for greater stability and potency. It is approximately 10 to 1,000 times more potent than alpha-MSH depending on the assay.
The defining feature of MT-1 is receptor selectivity. Of the five melanocortin receptors (MC1R through MC5R), MT-1 primarily targets MC1R, the receptor on melanocytes that governs pigmentation. MT-2, by contrast, is a non-selective agonist at MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, and MC5R, which explains its concurrent effects on appetite (MC3R and MC4R), sexual function (MC4R), and tanning (MC1R). MT-1 delivers the tanning and photoprotection component with minimal influence on appetite or libido.
In October 2019 the FDA approved MT-1 as Scenesse for erythropoietic protoporphyria, a rare genetic photosensitivity disorder. The approved formulation is a 16 mg sustained-release subcutaneous implant delivering the peptide over approximately 60 days. This makes MT-1 one of the very few melanocortin peptides with regulatory approval and long-term human safety data. The injectable research-grade form is not approved for tanning or any cosmetic indication, and MT-1 is not approved for vitiligo, where a Phase 3 trial was ongoing as of 2023.
How it works
Your skin contains cells called melanocytes. Their job is to make melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour. MT-1 attaches to a switch on the surface of these cells. Flipping that switch tells the cell to make more of an enzyme that turns an amino acid into melanin. The melanin is then passed to the surrounding skin cells, so the skin darkens gradually and evenly.
There are two kinds of melanin. The brown-black kind protects against the sun. The red-yellow kind, more common in fair-skinned people, actually creates harmful particles when hit by UV light. MT-1 pushes production towards the protective brown-black kind. In clinical studies, people treated with MT-1 had 47% fewer sunburn cells after UV exposure than untreated controls.
MT-1 leaves the body very quickly, in about 30 minutes. That is why the approved medical version is a slow-release implant lasting 60 days. With injections, you need to dose often to keep levels steady.
Because MT-1 mostly leaves the other switches alone, it does not cause the appetite loss, spontaneous erections, or libido changes that MT-2 is known for. Its side effects are mainly nausea, facial flushing, and changes in the skin.
MT-1 binds MC1R on melanocytes, activating an intracellular signalling cascade that upregulates tyrosinase. Tyrosinase converts tyrosine to melanin via a multi-step pathway; the melanin is packaged into melanosomes and transferred to surrounding keratinocytes in the epidermis, producing gradual, distributed skin darkening.
MC1R activation shifts melanogenesis towards eumelanin, the brown-black pigment that confers genuine photoprotection, and away from pheomelanin, the red-yellow pigment predominant in fair-skinned individuals that generates free radicals under UV. This is the basis of the original research goal of cancer prevention through a therapeutic tan. In clinical studies, MT-1-treated subjects showed 47% fewer sunburn cells than controls at UV-irradiated sites. The additional melanin absorbs UV photons, reduces formation of DNA-damaging reactive oxygen species, and decreases UV-induced apoptosis.
MT-1 has a short intrinsic half-life of approximately 30 minutes, which is why the approved formulation uses a sustained-release implant. The implant yields an apparent half-life of about 15 hours with consistent release over 60 days. Injectable formulations require more frequent dosing to maintain stable exposure.
Selectivity drives the tolerability profile. Because MT-1 does not meaningfully activate MC3R or MC4R, it lacks the appetite suppression, spontaneous erections, and libido changes associated with MT-2. Adverse effects are primarily nausea, facial flushing, and skin-related pigmentary changes.
What it does
MT-1 darkens the skin by increasing its natural pigment. It can do this with much less sun than would normally be needed, and the effect is faster and stronger when combined with moderate sun exposure. The extra pigment is the protective kind, so treated skin burns less easily. In trials, MT-1 users had 47% fewer sunburn cells after UV exposure.
In people with the rare light-sensitivity disorder EPP, the approved implant lets them spend far more time in sunlight without pain. A three-year observational study of 115 patients found sustained benefit, no serious adverse events, and a 1.8 to 180 fold increase in burn tolerance.
MT-1 also shows early promise for vitiligo when paired with narrowband UV-B light therapy, helping lost pigment return faster.
What it does not do is change appetite or sexual function in any meaningful way, which is the main difference from MT-2.
MT-1 induces melanogenesis independently of UV exposure, and acts synergistically with moderate UV to accelerate and deepen tanning. The eumelanin shift produces measurable photoprotection: 47% fewer sunburn cells in treated subjects in Barnetson et al. (2004). This is an internal adjunct to, not a replacement for, sunscreen.
In erythropoietic protoporphyria, the approved indication, afamelanotide significantly increases pain-free sun exposure and improves quality of life to a level comparable with healthy controls during treatment (Langendonk et al., 2015). Biolcati et al. (2015) followed 115 patients receiving 1,023 implants over up to 8 years, reporting no serious adverse events and phototoxic burn tolerance increased 1.8 to 180 fold.
In vitiligo, Grimes et al. (2013) in JAMA Dermatology showed faster and superior repigmentation with afamelanotide plus narrowband UV-B versus phototherapy alone, particularly on the face and upper extremities; a Phase III trial was initiated by Clinuvel in 2023.
Relative to MT-2, MT-1 produces minimal appetite suppression, no significant sexual side effects, and more predictable, focused tanning.
Benefits
Evidence grades: what the labels mean
- Human trials Supported by randomised or placebo-controlled human trials.
- Limited human data Some human evidence, such as pilot studies, case reports or observational data, but no controlled trials.
- Animal or lab only Shown in animal or cell studies only; not yet tested in people.
- Anecdotal No published studies; based on user reports or theory.
Each grade reflects the strongest published support for that specific claim, not for the compound as a whole.
- Tanning with much less time in the sunHuman trials
- Natural sun protection from the inside: 47% fewer sunburn cells in trialsHuman trials
- A base tan that lowers burn risk for fair-skinned people who burn before they tanHuman trials
- FDA-approved treatment for the light-sensitivity disorder EPP, greatly increasing pain-free time in sunlightHuman trials
- Early promise for returning pigment in vitiligo when combined with UV-B light therapyHuman trials
- Cleaner profile than MT-2: little effect on appetite or sexual functionLimited human data
- The most safety data of any tanning peptide, including up to 8 years of follow-upLimited human data
- UV-independent melanogenesis via MC1R, with synergistic acceleration under moderate UV exposureHuman trials
- Eumelanin-weighted photoprotection: 47% fewer sunburn cells at irradiated sites (Barnetson et al., 2004)Human trials
- Reduced burn risk in fair-skinned phenotypes by establishing a protective melanin baseHuman trials
- FDA-approved for erythropoietic protoporphyria: increased pain-free sun exposure and quality of life (Langendonk et al., 2015; 168 adults)Human trials
- Sustained EPP benefit with burn tolerance increased 1.8 to 180 fold and no serious adverse events over up to 8 years (Biolcati et al., 2015)Limited human data
- Faster and superior vitiligo repigmentation with narrowband UV-B (Grimes et al., 2013), Phase III initiated 2023Human trials
- Minimal MC3R/MC4R activity: no meaningful appetite suppression or sexual side effects compared with MT-2Limited human data
- Most robust long-term human safety dataset of any melanocortin tanning peptideLimited human data
What to expect
With injectable MT-1, results build slowly and depend on steady dosing.
In the first week of daily dosing, you will probably see little change in your skin. Nausea and a flushed face are the most common early effects. They usually fade after the first few days. Injecting before bed helps many users sleep through the nausea.
By days 7 to 14, early darkening may show, especially if you get some sun. It is subtle at first.
Over weeks 2 to 4, the tan becomes clearer. Existing freckles and moles may darken, and some people notice new ones. This usually reverses after stopping, but you should check your skin regularly and see a dermatologist before starting. People who already tan naturally but slowly get the best results. People who never tan will see less.
After the loading phase, dosing 1 to 2 times a week can hold the tan for a long time, and the colour lasts for weeks even after you stop.
MT-1 tans more slowly than MT-2 and needs more frequent dosing. Users report the result looks more natural and even. Some find the cost and frequency frustrating and switch to MT-2.
Effects of injectable MT-1 are gradual and dose-dependent on consistent administration.
Week 1 of daily dosing typically produces little visible change. Nausea and facial flushing are the most common early effects and diminish over the first few days as tolerance develops; users report that dosing before bed mitigates nausea.
Days 7 to 14 bring early visible darkening, particularly with concurrent UV exposure. Weeks 2 to 4 show more pronounced tanning, with darkening of existing naevi and freckles and occasional appearance of new lesions. This pigmentary change is consistent across clinical and user data and generally reverses after discontinuation; baseline and ongoing dermatological monitoring is widely recommended. Response is strongest in individuals who tan naturally but slowly, and weakest in those who never tan.
Post-loading maintenance at 1 to 2 doses weekly sustains the tan, and pigmentation persists for weeks after cessation.
Because of MC1R selectivity and the short half-life, MT-1 requires higher and more frequent dosing than MT-2 for equivalent tanning intensity. In practice, users describe slower but more natural and even colour compared with MT-2's sometimes mottled result. Cost and dosing frequency lead some users to switch to MT-2. The Scenesse 16 mg implant, by contrast, produces gradual melanin increase over approximately 60 days without daily injections.
Reconstitution and dosing
Important: the practical injection protocol has never been tested in a published dose-finding study. It comes from patterns users report. Clinical trials used a different approach.
Studied doses. Phase 1 trials gave 0.08 to 0.16 mg/kg daily for 10 days by injection, combined with UV exposure. For an 80 kg (175 pound) person that is about 6.4 to 12.8 mg over the 10 days. The approved implant delivers 16 mg over about 60 days and is replaced every 60 days.
Practical loading phase. 0.25 to 0.5 mg injected under the skin once daily for 10 to 14 days, with 15 to 30 minutes of moderate sun during this phase.
Maintenance phase. 0.25 to 0.5 mg, 1 to 2 times weekly, for as long as you want to hold the tan. Moderate sun exposure helps.
Mixing. A 10 mg vial mixed with 2 mL of bacteriostatic water gives 0.25 mg per 5 units on an insulin syringe. Keep it in the fridge after mixing.
Sun. The goal is gentle activation, not burning. Do not push sun exposure beyond what your skin already tolerates. Protection builds gradually.
Do not use if you have a personal history of melanoma, atypical or dysplastic moles, a family history of melanoma, known allergy to MT-1 or related peptides, or if pregnant or breastfeeding. Get a dermatology exam and photograph your moles before starting. Do not combine with MT-2.
No published dose-finding studies exist for subcutaneous injection protocols used outside clinical settings; the practical protocol reflects patterns users report.
Studied doses. Barnetson et al. (2004) Phase 1 trials used 0.08 to 0.16 mg/kg daily subcutaneously for 10 days with small doses of UV-B, equating to approximately 6.4 to 12.8 mg over the loading period for an 80 kg (175 pound) subject. The Scenesse implant delivers 16 mg over approximately 60 days, administered every 60 days.
Loading phase. 0.25 to 0.5 mg subcutaneously daily for 10 to 14 days, with 15 to 30 minutes of moderate sun exposure.
Maintenance phase. 0.25 to 0.5 mg, 1 to 2 times weekly, ongoing as desired, with moderate UV exposure recommended.
Reconstitution. 10 mg vial in 2 mL bacteriostatic water yields 0.25 mg per 5 units on an insulin syringe. Refrigerate after reconstitution.
UV exposure. Target gentle melanocyte activation, not erythema. UV exposure should not exceed current skin tolerance; photoprotection accrues gradually.
Contraindications. Personal history of melanoma; atypical or dysplastic naevi; family history of melanoma; hypersensitivity to MT-1 or related melanocortin peptides; pregnancy or breastfeeding. Caution in fair-skinned individuals with many naevi, autoimmune conditions, and hepatic or renal impairment. Baseline dermatology exam with mole documentation and photography, and regular skin checks during and after use.
Stacking. No known interactions with BPC-157, TB-500, GLP-1 agonists, or GH peptides. MT-1 and MT-2 compete for the same receptors and should not be combined; the choice between them is a substitution decision.
Standard (loading), 10 mg vial
Mix with 2 mL (200 units) of bacteriostatic water.
5 mg/mL · 50 mcg per unit
Cycle: 10 to 14 days · Frequency: Once daily, subcutaneous
| When | Dose | Draw | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | 250 mcg | 5 units | once daily |
| Full | 500 mcg | 10 units | once daily |
Standard (maintenance), 10 mg vial
Mix with 2 mL (200 units) of bacteriostatic water.
5 mg/mL · 50 mcg per unit
Cycle: Ongoing as desired · Frequency: 1 to 2 times weekly, subcutaneous
| When | Dose | Draw | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | 250 mcg | 5 units | 1 to 2 times weekly |
| Full | 500 mcg | 10 units | 1 to 2 times weekly |
10 mg in 2 mL is 5 mg/mL, or 50 mcg per unit. Draw 5 units (0.05 mL) for 250 mcg.
Who should avoid it
- Anyone who has ever had melanoma. MT-1 darkens moles and can make skin cancer harder to spot.
- Anyone with a history of unusual or atypical moles (called dysplastic moles). These already carry a high melanoma risk.
- Anyone with a family history of melanoma. Talk to a skin doctor first, and do not use it without their input.
- Anyone who has had an allergic reaction to MT-1 or a related tanning peptide such as MT-2 or PT-141.
- Anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding. There is not enough safety information.
- Use extra care if you are fair-skinned with many moles. Get a skin check and photos of your moles before you start, then check them often.
- Use extra care if you have an autoimmune condition.
- Use extra care if you have liver or kidney problems.
- Personal history of melanoma. MC1R-driven melanogenesis darkens existing naevi and can obscure surveillance.
- History of atypical or dysplastic naevi, which carry high baseline melanoma risk.
- Family history of melanoma; discuss with a dermatologist before any use.
- Known hypersensitivity to MT-1 or related melanocortin peptides.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding, owing to insufficient safety data.
- Caution in fair-skinned individuals with numerous naevi: baseline dermatology examination with mole documentation, photographic records, and regular skin checks during and after use.
- Caution in autoimmune conditions.
- Caution in hepatic or renal impairment.
Side effects
- Nausea. This is the most common side effect. It is usually mild and fades after the first few days. Some users inject before bed and sleep through it.
- Headache, reported in more than 10% of patients in trials.
- Facial flushing, usually only in the first few days.
- Tiredness.
- Redness or soreness at the injection site.
- Darkening of existing moles and freckles, and sometimes new moles or freckles. This usually reverses after stopping, but every mole change should be watched closely.
- Overall skin darkening. This is the intended effect, but it can go further than you planned if you keep dosing.
- Nausea (greater than 10% of patients in Phase 1 and Phase 3 trials), typically mild and transient; users report bedtime dosing mitigates it.
- Headache (greater than 10%).
- Facial flushing (1 to 10%), temporary and usually confined to the first few days.
- Fatigue (1 to 10%).
- Injection site reactions (1 to 10%).
- Darkening of existing naevi and freckles, potential development of new naevi, and generalised hyperpigmentation. Mole darkening is consistent across clinical data and user reports and most users note reversal after discontinuation.
- Because MT-1 does not meaningfully activate MC3R or MC4R, appetite suppression, spontaneous erections, and libido changes seen with MT-2 are minimal or absent.
- Long-term data: 115 EPP patients receiving 1,023 implants over up to 8 years showed no serious adverse events attributed to afamelanotide and no increased melanoma risk; no late effects were reported in volunteers 25 years after first exposure.
What the evidence shows
MT-1 has stronger human evidence than any other tanning peptide. It is FDA approved under the name Scenesse for a rare light-sensitivity disorder called erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP).
Barnetson et al. (2004) tested MT-1 at 0.08 to 0.16 mg/kg daily for 10 days alongside small doses of UV-B. Treated volunteers had 47% fewer sunburn cells and tanned much more than controls. Side effects were only mild nausea and facial flushing.
Langendonk et al. (2015) ran two randomised, placebo-controlled trials in 168 adults with EPP using a 16 mg implant every 60 days. Patients could spend much longer in the sun without pain and had better quality of life. No serious side effects were linked to the drug.
Biolcati et al. (2015) followed 115 EPP patients who received 1,023 implants over up to 8 years. There were no serious adverse events, and tolerance to sun burning rose 1.8 to 180 fold.
Grimes et al. (2013) treated four vitiligo patients with implants plus narrowband UV-B light therapy and saw faster, better repigmentation than light therapy alone, especially on the face and arms. A Phase III vitiligo trial began in 2023.
One gap matters: no published studies have tested the daily injection doses that people use for tanning outside a clinic. Those protocols are based on user practice, not trials.
MT-1 (afamelanotide) is a superpotent, stabilised alpha-MSH analogue, approximately 10 to 1,000 times more potent than the native hormone depending on the assay, with selective MC1R agonism. MC1R activation upregulates tyrosinase, shifts melanogenesis toward eumelanin, and increases UV photon absorption while reducing reactive oxygen species and UV-induced apoptosis. Intrinsic half-life is approximately 30 minutes; the implant yields an apparent half-life of about 15 hours with release over 60 days.
Barnetson et al. (2004), Archives of Dermatology: open-label Phase 1 studies at 0.08 to 0.16 mg/kg daily for 10 days with low-dose UV-B produced 47% fewer sunburn cells at irradiated sites and significantly enhanced tanning versus controls. Adverse effects were limited to mild, transient nausea and facial flushing.
Langendonk et al. (2015), New England Journal of Medicine: two multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 trials in 168 adults with EPP, 16 mg implant or placebo every 60 days. Pain-free sun exposure duration and quality of life improved significantly; no serious adverse events were attributed to the drug.
Biolcati et al. (2015), British Journal of Dermatology: 115 EPP patients, 1,023 implants, up to 8 years. No serious adverse events; phototoxic burn tolerance increased 1.8 to 180 fold; sustained quality-of-life gains with high compliance.
Grimes et al. (2013), JAMA Dermatology: four generalised vitiligo patients receiving implants plus narrowband UV-B showed faster, superior repigmentation versus historical phototherapy-alone controls, particularly on the face and upper extremities. Clinuvel initiated a Phase III vitiligo trial in 2023.
FDA approval as Scenesse (16 mg implant) for EPP followed in October 2019. No published dose-finding studies exist for the subcutaneous injection protocols used outside clinical settings. Melanoma case reports concern MT-2, not afamelanotide, and are confounded by UV-seeking behaviour.
User reports
From public forums
Users report that MT-1 tans well but more slowly than MT-2. It needs steadier dosing and more weeks to reach the same colour. The upside is that the tan often looks more natural and even, whereas MT-2 can leave a patchy or blotchy result.
Nausea is the most common complaint and is usually mild. Injecting before bed and sleeping through it is a common workaround. Facial flushing in the first few days fades on its own. People often pick MT-1 because it does not cause the spontaneous erections or loss of appetite that MT-2 does.
Darkening of moles and freckles is reported by most users, and some see new moles. It usually fades after stopping, but a skin check before and during use is widely advised.
The main frustration is cost and convenience. MT-1 needs more frequent injections, so some users switch to MT-2 and accept its wider side effects in exchange for less hassle.
In practice, MT-1 is reported to produce effective but slower tanning than MT-2, requiring more consistent dosing and longer timelines to reach comparable depth of colour. Users frequently describe the resulting pigmentation as more natural and even, contrasting with the mottled or uneven result some attribute to MT-2.
Nausea is the most commonly reported adverse effect and is generally mild; bedtime administration is a common mitigation. Facial flushing occurs in the first few days and subsides. The absence of MC4R-mediated effects, spontaneous erections and appetite suppression, is frequently cited as the reason for selecting MT-1.
Mole and freckle darkening is near-universal in reports, with some users noting new naevi; most report reversal after discontinuation. Dermatological monitoring before and during use is widely recommended.
The principal complaint is cost and dosing burden. Because of the short half-life and lower potency per milligram relative to MT-2, MT-1 is less convenient and more expensive per result, and a proportion of users switch to MT-2 on that basis.
User reports are individual experiences submitted by site visitors. They are not medical advice, are not verified for accuracy, and do not reflect Amino Reference's views. Read the evidence section above and talk to a clinician. Full disclaimer.
Stacking
No known interactions. BPC-157 works on tissue repair, not skin pigment, so the two can be used at the same time without timing problems.
No known interactions. Entirely separate mechanisms from MC1R agonism; concurrent use presents no timing conflicts.
No known interactions. TB-500 is a repair peptide and does not overlap with tanning. Both can be run together.
No known interactions. Distinct mechanism; concurrent use without scheduling constraints.
- GLP-1 agonists
No known interactions. Weight-loss peptides in this class work on appetite and blood sugar, not skin. They can be used alongside MT-1.
No known interactions. Different mechanisms of action; MT-1 has minimal MC3R/MC4R activity so does not add to appetite effects. Concurrent use is straightforward.
- Growth hormone peptides
No known interactions. GH peptides need to be taken on an empty stomach; MT-1 does not, so there is no scheduling clash.
No known interactions. GH secretagogues require fasted administration; MT-1 does not, so timing is independent and non-conflicting.
Do not combine. This is a choose-one decision. MT-1 gives focused tanning with fewer side effects; MT-2 adds appetite suppression and sexual effects with broader side effects. Both hit the same target, so stacking them makes no sense.
Substitution, not stacking. Both compounds compete for MC1R; combining them adds no benefit. MT-1 for selective MC1R tanning and photoprotection, MT-2 for non-selective MC1R/MC3R/MC4R/MC5R effects including appetite and sexual function.
Common questions
Is MT-1 the same as MT-2?
No. MT-1 mainly targets the one receptor that controls skin pigment, so it tans and protects skin with little effect on appetite or sexual function. MT-2 hits several receptors at once and affects tanning, appetite, and sexual function together. MT-1 is FDA approved for a rare disorder called EPP; MT-2 was never approved and was dropped during development over safety concerns.
No. MT-1 is a selective MC1R agonist for tanning and photoprotection. MT-2 is non-selective across MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, and MC5R, producing simultaneous effects on pigmentation, appetite, and sexual function. MT-1 is FDA approved as Scenesse for EPP; MT-2 was abandoned in clinical development on safety grounds.
Does MT-1 cause melanoma?
Published data on afamelanotide shows no increased melanoma risk, including up to 8 years of continuous use with no serious adverse events. But MT-1 does darken moles, which can make skin cancer harder to spot. Get a skin check before starting, watch your moles, and do not use it if you or your family have a history of melanoma.
No evidence from published afamelanotide data shows increased melanoma risk; up to 8 years of continuous use in EPP patients found no serious adverse events, and no late effects were reported in volunteers 25 years after first exposure. Naevus darkening can, however, impair surveillance. Baseline dermatology examination and regular monitoring are required, and personal or family melanoma history is a contraindication.
Why is MT-1 more expensive and less convenient than MT-2?
Because MT-1 is more selective, it needs more frequent and somewhat higher doses to reach the same tan. That is the price of fewer side effects. MT-2 gives more tanning per milligram because it stimulates the system more broadly.
MT-1's selectivity and approximately 30-minute intrinsic half-life mean higher and more frequent dosing to match MT-2's tanning intensity. MT-2 is more potent per milligram for pigmentation because its non-selective agonism drives the system more broadly. The dosing burden is the trade-off for the cleaner profile.
Is sun exposure needed for MT-1 to work?
MT-1 can darken skin without sun, but it works faster and better with moderate sun. Trials paired it with UV exposure. Around 15 to 30 minutes of gentle sun during the loading phase is typical. Never push past what your skin already tolerates.
MT-1 induces melanogenesis independently of UV, but the response is synergistic with moderate UV exposure, and clinical trials combined the two. In practice, 15 to 30 minutes of moderate sun during the loading phase is typical, with exposure kept within current skin tolerance.
Will freckles and moles get darker?
Yes. This is seen in both trials and user reports. Existing moles and freckles darken, and some people get new ones. The changes usually fade after stopping. Photograph your moles and watch for any change.
Yes. Darkening of existing naevi and freckles, and occasional new naevi, is consistent across clinical data and user reports. Changes typically reverse after discontinuation. Photographic documentation and close monitoring of all naevus changes are advised.
How long does it take to see a tan?
Little visible change in the first week. Early darkening may appear by days 7 to 14, especially with some sun. Over weeks 2 to 4 the tan becomes clear. Dosing 1 to 2 times weekly afterwards keeps it, and the colour lasts for weeks after stopping.
Minimal visible change in week one; early hyperpigmentation by days 7 to 14 with UV exposure; progressive deepening over weeks 2 to 4. Maintenance dosing 1 to 2 times weekly sustains the tan, and pigmentation persists for weeks after discontinuation. Response is greatest in those who tan naturally but slowly.
References
- Barnetson RS, Ooi TK, Zhuang L, et al. Effects of a superpotent melanotropic peptide in combination with solar UV radiation on tanning of the skin in human volunteers. Archives of Dermatology. 2004;140(7):827-835.
- Langendonk JG, Balwani M, Anderson KE, et al. Afamelanotide for erythropoietic protoporphyria. New England Journal of Medicine. 2015;373(1):48-59.
- Biolcati G, Marchesini E, Sorge F, et al. Long-term observational study of afamelanotide in 115 patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria. British Journal of Dermatology. 2015;172(6):1601-1612.
- Grimes PE, Hamzavi I, Lebwohl M, et al. The efficacy of afamelanotide and narrowband UV-B phototherapy for repigmentation of vitiligo. JAMA Dermatology. 2013;149(1):68-73.
- Haylett AK, Sherwood S, Baker CS, et al. Efficacy of afamelanotide for the long-term treatment of erythropoietic protoporphyria. JAMA Dermatology. 2020;156(12):1366-1370.
- Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals. SCENESSE (afamelanotide) Prescribing Information. 2019.
This entry was written from additional reference material. Units are recomputed from the stated protocol.