Melanotan – Product Details

Melanotan 1 is a synthetic melanocyte-stimulating hormone that induces skin pigmentation through melanogenesis or melanin production. Melanin prevents cellular damage in the skin by absorbing, reflecting, and refracting light. Melanotan 1 reduces sun damage to UV-exposed skin, transforming cells to produce dark protective melanin.

Melanotan 1 works by replicating alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in your body. The alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone binds to melanocortin receptors and induces the production of the pigment melanin in skin cells.

What is Melanotan 1?

Melanotan 1 is a synthetic peptide analog of α melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH). Alpha-MSH is a peptide hormone naturally produced in the body and secreted by the pituitary gland. It is known for its anti-inflammatory and antipyretic (fever-reducing) effects. [R]

Melanotan 1 is clinically used in Europe for the prevention of phototoxicity, a condition in which the skin becomes very sensitive to light. Phototoxicity causes skin burning, sunburn, and other sun-related skin damage. It can also potentially increase your risk of developing skin cancer. [R]

How does Melanotan 1 Work?

Melanotan 1 works by stimulating melanocytes in the body.

Melanocytes, short for melanocortin receptors, are cells in the skin and eyes. There are five of them (MC1R, MC2R, MC3R, MC4R, and MC5R). Melanocytes regulate sexual function, pigmentation, and inflammation. They also exert a potent influence over food intake.

Research has shown that Melanotan 1 has a strong affinity for the MC1R. This research chemical stimulates MC1R to increase the production and release of melanin, a pigment that gives color to the skin, eyes, and hair. Melanin also absorbs harmful UV rays to prevent cellular damage. [R]

Melanotan 1 Vs Melanotan 2

Melanotan 1 and Melanotan 2 are research peptides.

Both are synthetic derivatives of the alpha-MSH and work by binding to melanocortin receptors in the body. Melanotan 1 and 2 are thought to cross the blood-brain barrier and influence the production of melanin, aka the pigment hormone, in the human body.

In separate clinical trials, both these research peptides have demonstrated an ability to induce tanning in human subjects. The duo’s mode of administration in trials was also the same – both were administered as an injection subcutaneously (underneath the skin).

Having said that, there are several major differences between the two.

Unlike MT 1, which is made up of 13 amino acids, MT 2 has seven amino acids in its chain. This explains the difference in the duo’s molecular weights. While MT-1 has a molecular weight of 1,646.845 g/mol, MT-II’s molar mass is 1,024.18 g/mol.

Also, while both research chemicals induce skin tanning, MT 2 has stimulated penile erections in patients with erectile dysfunction. This sunless tanning agent was also found to increase the production of skin-darkening pigments at lower cumulative doses than MT-1. [R]

Melanotan 1 Research

Human clinical trials have shown that Melanotan 1 can cause sunless tanning. It has also been shown that this research chemical can be safely combined with UVB light therapy or sunlight. MT 1 also appears to act synergistically in the tanning response to light. [R]

1) Melanotan 1 and Tanning

Seven normal volunteers (six males and one female) were given 10 daily subcutaneous injections of MT-1 over two weeks. Tanning was measured serially using computerized light reflectance. This regimen induced tanning at 3 of 8 anatomic sites, including the face, neck, and forearm. [R]

In another study, MT-1 was injected subcutaneously in normal male subjects at a 0.08/kg/day dose for 10 days. MT-1 induced significant skin tanning compared to saline-treated control subjects. Tanning was prominent in the face and neck; side effects were minimal. [R]

Lastly, three phase-1 clinical trials were performed to demonstrate the safety of MT-1 therapy combined with UV-B or sunlight. Results from the three showed that MT-1 could be safely combined with UV-B light or sunlight. It also appears to act synergistically in tanning response to light. [R]

2) Melanotan 1 and Blood Pressure

A rodent study has shown that treatment with Melanotan 1 increases urinary sodium excretion and protects against deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt-induced hypertension. These findings point to the potential future use of a-MSH analogs in the treatment of hypertension. [R]

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, increases your risk of several serious problems. These include heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, and kidney disease. Normal blood pressure is therefore crucial for enjoying a safe and long life. [R]

3) Melanotan 1 and Hailey-Hailey Disease

Hailey-Hailey disease is a rare genetic disorder caused by the failure of stick cells to stick together. Its symptoms include blisters and erosions on the neck, skin folds, armpits, and genitals. Sweating, friction, sunlight, and heat might aggravate this disorder.

In a phase II open-label study, MT-1, also known as afamelanotide, was administered subcutaneously to two patients with HHD. Both parents had 100% clearance of HHD lesions after the first injection. It was concluded that afamelanotide is effective for treating skin lesions in HHD. [R]

4) Melanotan 1 and Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a condition where pale white patches develop on the skin. It is caused due to the lack of the production of melanin in the body. This condition can affect any area of the skin, but it usually happens on the face, in skin creases, and on necks and hands. [R]

In a randomized multicenter trial, Melanotan I and narrowband UV-B phototherapy were tested for the treatment of vitiligo. The combination was found to induce clinically apparent, statistically significant, and faster re-pigmentation than NB-UV-B monotherapy. [R]

5) Melanotan 1 and Solar Urticaria

Solar urticaria refers to a condition in which rash or hives appear on the skin exposed to the sun. The severity of this condition depends on how much skin is exposed to sunlight. That means that the greater the sun exposure, the more severe the reaction will be. [R]

On 24 July 2009, the European Commission granted MT-1 orphan designation to MT-1 for the treatment of solar urticaria in the UK. How MT-1 works in solar urticaria isn’t fully understood, but it is thought that it stimulates eumelanin production in skin cells independently of skin exposure. [R]

6) Melanotan 1 and Fat Loss

A mice study has shown that Melanotan 1 increases fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle, in which MC5R plays a major role. MT-1, which has ample MC4R and MC3R agonist activity, was demonstrated to stimulate fatty acid metabolism only at high concentrations. [R]

The data from the study demonstrate that PKA-AMPK activation, followed by ACC (acetyl-CoA carboxylase) phosphorylation, plays a crucial role in MT-1-induced FAO in skeletal muscle.

7) Melanotan 1 and Erythropoietic Protoporphyria

Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP) is an ultra-rare genetic disorder. It is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme ferrochelatase (FECH). It is characterized by painful burn reactions in skin exposed to light.

MT-1 is also the first clinically tested therapy effective in increasing the time EPP patients can spend in direct sunlight without developing symptoms. An analysis of the clinical data collected between 2016 and 2018 found that the treatment of EPP patients with MT-1 is highly effective under real-world conditions. [R]

8) Melanotan 1 and Skin Cancer

According to a 1995 study, Melanotan 1 was in phase-1 trials at the Arizona Cancer Center (University of Arizona, Tucson, USA) to evaluate its potential as a chemoprotective agent for sunlight-induced skin cancers. However, the results of the trial remain unknown. [R]

Pure Rawz sells Melanotan 1 for research purposes only, not for veterinary or human consumption. It is advised to talk to a qualified healthcare practitioner to know more about this research peptide.

Melanotan 1 FAQs

What’s the difference between Melanotan 1 and 2?

Melanotan 1 has 13 amino acids in its chain while Melanotan 2 is made up of 7 amino acids. Also, while both these peptides produce sunless tanning, only Melanotan 2 has produced sexual stimulation and spontaneous penile erections in research subjects.

Is Melanotan a steroid?

Melanotan 1 and 2 are synthetic peptides. They are analogs of the alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone.

Where to Buy Melanotan 1 Online

Pure Rawz is the best place to buy Melanotan 1 online.

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Summary

Melanotan 1 has shown much potential as a potential therapeutic option for solar urticaria, Hailey-Hailey disease, and various other skin-related disorders in separate trials. This research peptide has also demonstrated its ability to cause sun-associated and sunless tanning.