Melanotan: clinical evidence record
Also known as: Melanotan I, Afamelanotide, Scenesse, Melanotan II, MT-II
Oliver Mackman · Editorial director · Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937)
Last updated 2026-05-22
Editorial with affiliate links. We earn from purchases via outbound retailer / clinic links. How we are funded.
AI-friendly summary · Melanotan
Afamelanotide (Melanotan I) is licensed as Scenesse in the EU and US for erythropoietic protoporphyria. Melanotan II has no marketing authorisation in any Western jurisdiction. MHRA has issued multiple public warnings about unregulated Melanotan II supply.
Mechanism of action
How Melanotan works
Melanotan I is a 13-amino-acid linear analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) that selectively binds the MC1R receptor to stimulate melanin synthesis. Melanotan II is a cyclic heptapeptide with broader melanocortin-receptor activity (MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, MC5R) and additional effects on appetite and sexual function.
Top peer-reviewed citations
Selection of the most-cited peer-reviewed literature on Melanotan. Where a verified PMID or DOI is shown, the citation links to the original record. Other citations list the title, authors, journal and year so the reader can locate the paper through the journal index or the PubMed search linked below. PeptideClear publishes editorial commentary, not clinical guidance.
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Afamelanotide for erythropoietic protoporphyria
Langendonk JG, Balwani M, Anderson KE, et al.. New England Journal of Medicine, 2015.
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Long-term experience of afamelanotide in erythropoietic protoporphyria
Biolcati G, Marchesini E, Sorge F, et al.. British Journal of Dermatology, 2015.
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Adverse effects of unregulated Melanotan II use
Cardones AR, Grichnik JM. Archives of Dermatology, 2009.
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Melanocortin pharmacology of Melanotan II
Hadley ME, Dorr RT. Peptides, 2006.
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Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Afamelanotide and its Clinical Use in Treating Dermatologic Disorders
Minder EI, Barman-Aksoezen J, Schneider-Yin X. Clinical pharmacokinetics, 2017.
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Afamelanotide: A Review in Erythropoietic Protoporphyria
Kim ES, Garnock-Jones KP. American journal of clinical dermatology, 2016.
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Risks of unregulated use of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogues: a review
Habbema L, Halk AB, Neumann M, et al.. International journal of dermatology, 2017.
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Melanotan II injection resulting in systemic toxicity and rhabdomyolysis
Nelson ME, Bryant SM, Aks SE. Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.), 2012.
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Melanotan-associated melanoma
Paurobally D, Jason F, Dezfoulian B, et al.. The British journal of dermatology, 2011.
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Melanotan and the posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome
Kaski D, Stafford N, Mehta A, et al.. Annals of internal medicine, 2013.
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Depigmented Facial and Neck Patches Following Melanotan Use in a Patient With Atopic Dermatitis and Alopecia Areata
Ume A, Chambers S, Worswick S. Clinical and experimental dermatology, 2026.
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Insights into Tanning Biology and Tanning Products
Resnick G, Khajeh-Afzaly M, Yousefian F, et al.. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology, 2026.
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Changes in Oral Mucosa Associated with Melanotan II Injections: A Case Report
Bonchev A. Life (Basel, Switzerland), 2026.
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Unregulated Melanotan Use Promoted via Social Media: Emerging Dermatologic and Public Health Risks
Sidhu AS, Konig DJ, Yu-Corpuz BX, et al.. International journal of dermatology, 2026.
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Investigation of the stability profile of therapeutic α-MSH analogue: Insights from liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry analysis of afamelanotide
Chawathe A, Sharma N. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis, 2026.
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Sunless Tanners in Dermatology: A Review of Ingredients, Efficacy, and Safety Profiles
Black TA, Hatch J, Laughter MR, et al.. Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD, 2026.
Full PubMed search: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=melanotan+afamelanotide.
UK regulatory status
Plain-English summary of where Melanotan sits under the four UK and international frameworks that govern peptide supply. Editorial commentary, not legal advice.
- Misuse of Drugs Act 1971: Not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
- Psychoactive Substances Act 2016: Not scheduled under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.
- MHRA medicines classification: No UK marketing authorisation as a medicine.
- WADA Prohibited List: Not currently listed on the WADA Prohibited List.
Risks and unknowns
What the literature does not yet show about Melanotan
Known concerns
- Most published efficacy claims for Melanotan require careful interpretation. Read the cited papers in full before drawing conclusions.
- Purity of UK research-peptide supply varies between retailers. Certificates of analysis and HPLC documentation differ.
- Cold-chain handling between manufacture and delivery is not standardised across the research-peptide market.
- Independent replication of single-group findings is the key check on any preclinical claim.
Open questions in the literature
- Where human pharmacokinetics have not been formally characterised, dose translation from animal models is not reliable.
- Long-term safety profile beyond the duration of published studies remains an open question.
- Interactions with other prescribed or unlicensed substances are typically not studied.
Regulatory note
No UK marketing authorisation as a medicine. Not currently listed on the WADA Prohibited List. The moment a UK seller or commentator makes a therapeutic claim, MHRA can treat the product as an unlicensed medicinal product.
Important: PeptideClear publishes encyclopedia commentary only and does not recommend human use. Speak to a UK-registered prescriber before any medical decision.
Related reading on PeptideClear
Frequently asked questions
What is the evidence level for Melanotan?
What is the UK regulatory status of Melanotan?
Has Melanotan been tested in human clinical trials?
Where can I read the source literature for Melanotan?
Last verified 2026-05-22. Editorial commentary, not legal or clinical advice. Citations without a linked identifier can be located through the PubMed search and the journal index.