Approved drugMelanocortin agonist (tanning)

Melanotan 1

Q: What is the usual Melanotan 1 dose?

From the label (Scenesse, EPP): One 16 mg implant every 2 months, inserted by a clinician. A slow-release implant isn’t comparable to a 16 mg injection. From community reports, not established: Injection: 0.25 mg daily for 3–5 days, then 0.5–1 mg daily for 10–21 days, then 0.5–1 mg 2–3× per week. These are the amounts sources reference, not recommendations.

Q: How much water do I mix Melanotan 1 with?

There’s no single right amount, because the water only sets the strength. With 2 mL of bacteriostatic water in a 10 mg vial, the strength is 5 mg/mL, so 0.25 mg is 5 units on a U-100 insulin syringe. More water makes small doses easier to measure. The dose chart above shows other volumes.

Q: What is the half-life of Melanotan 1?

About 15 hours, according to the prescribing information. Apparent half-life with the 16 mg subcutaneous slow-release implant, in adults. Injected solution is not covered by the label.

Q: How should Melanotan 1 be stored?

Not supplied as powder. The Scenesse implant is kept in a fridge at 2–8 °C (36–46 °F), protected from light. After mixing: Not applicable; the implant is inserted whole by a trained clinician.

Q: Is Melanotan 1 banned in sport?

No. Not named on the 2026 list. As an approved drug (Scenesse), afamelanotide is outside S0 non-approved substances.

Q: Has Melanotan 1 been studied in people?

Yes. The human studies section lists 4 published studies. The largest, from 2025, included 200 people. Quality of life rose from baseline (p<0.0001) and 91% of patients who started stayed on treatment; safety matched the trials.

Afamelanotide (Scenesse)

Common dose: 0.25 → 1 mg daily, then 2–3× weekly
Cycle: Load 3 weeks, then maintain
Vial sizes: 10 mg
Typical draw: 5 units10 mg with 2 mL, 0.25 mg

A longer-acting synthetic version of alpha-MSH that stimulates melanin production.

Evidence. Approved (US 2019, EU) as a 16 mg slow-release implant (Scenesse) for erythropoietic protoporphyria. Injected powder for cosmetic tanning is unapproved.

Status

Approval: Approved in the US (2019) and EU as Scenesse, a 16 mg implant for adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria. Injected powder for tanning is unapproved.
Sport (WADA 2026): Not banned in sportNot named on the 2026 list. As an approved drug (Scenesse), afamelanotide is outside S0 non-approved substances.

Sport status follows the WADA Prohibited List in force since January 1, 2026; athletes should confirm with their anti-doping organization. Checked October 5, 2026.

Protocol

Label

Scenesse, EPP

One 16 mg implant every 2 months, inserted by a clinician. A slow-release implant isn’t comparable to a 16 mg injection.

Community

Injection: 0.25 mg daily for 3–5 days, then 0.5–1 mg daily for 10–21 days, then 0.5–1 mg 2–3× per week.

Frequency: Daily while loading, then 2–3× per week
Route: Subcutaneous injection (community); the approved product is an implant
Cycle: Loading for 2–3 weeks, then maintenance as needed.
Load 3 weeks, then maintain, shown over 26 weeks

Common protocols

The ways Melanotan 1 is most often run, each tagged with where it comes from.

Approved implant (EPP)

Label

Dose: 16 mg implant
How often: Every 2 months
How long: Ongoing, as prescribed

Inserted by a trained clinician. Slow release, so it can’t be compared with a 16 mg injection.

Injected loading (unapproved)

Community

Dose: 0.25 mg, then 0.5–1 mg
How often: Daily
How long: About 2–3 weeks

0.25 mg for the first 3–5 days, then 0.5–1 mg. Not studied in trials.

Injected maintenance (unapproved)

Community

Dose: 0.5–1 mg
How often: 2–3× per week
How long: As needed

Community pattern only. No safety data for this use.

Draw 10–20 units10 mg + 2 mL

Community loading pattern

Period	Dose	Draw at 5 mg/mL
Days 1–5 (daily)	0.25 mg	5 units (0.05 mL)
Days 6–21 (daily)	0.5 mg	10 units (0.10 mL)
Maintenance (2–3× per week)	0.5 mg	10 units (0.10 mL)

Units assume a 10 mg vial mixed with 2 mL. Use the calculator for other vial sizes.

Taking it

Where it goes

Label: a trained clinician inserts the implant under the skin just above the front of the hip bone (supra-iliac crest). Unapproved injections go under the skin, rotating sites.

If you miss a dose

The label has no late-implant rule; one implant is given every 2 months. For injections there’s no published guidance; don’t double up.

What to expect

Over 6 months (EPP)
Median pain-free hours in direct sun: 64 on the implant vs 40.5 on placebo.
Label
Weeks to months
General skin darkening, and darker existing moles and freckles.
Label
After each implant
Implant-site reaction in 21% (placebo 10%) and nausea in 19% (placebo 14%).
Label

Side effects and what to do

Implant-site reaction (label: 21% vs 10% placebo)

Tell the prescriber if the site gets hot, swollen or starts to ooze.

Nausea (label: 19% vs 14% placebo)

Only slightly above placebo. Report it if it persists.

Darker skin, new or darker moles (label: 4% each)

Expected effect. The label recommends a full-body skin exam twice a year.

Sore throat, cough, tiredness (label: 7%, 6%, 6%)

Report to the prescriber if it persists.

Stop and get medical help

See a doctor for a mole that changes shape, color or size, bleeds or itches; a hot, swollen implant site with fever; or hives, swelling or trouble breathing.

Tracking and pairing

Worth tracking

Full-body skin exam twice a year (label)
New or changing moles

Often paired with

Usually run on its own.

Human studies

4 key published human studies, with how many people took part. Animal studies aren’t listed here.

2015168 people

Median pain-free time in direct sun: 69.4 vs 40.8 hours (US, P=0.04) and 6.0 vs 0.8 hours (EU, P=0.005) vs placebo; quality of life improved.

Design
Two randomized controlled trials
Dose
16 mg implant every 60 days
Length
6 months (US) and 9 months (EU)

Langendonk et al., N Engl J Med 2015, PMID 26132941
2025200 people

Quality of life rose from baseline (p<0.0001) and 91% of patients who started stayed on treatment; safety matched the trials.

Design
Observational post-authorization safety study
Dose
16 mg implant per EU label
Length
Long-term, ongoing

Homey et al., Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 2025, PMID 40082741
2015115 people

Disease-specific quality-of-life score rose from 31% to about 74% of maximum; only minor side effects, mainly nausea.

Design
Observational cohort
Dose
16 mg implants (1,023 in total)
Length
Up to 8 years

Biolcati et al., Br J Dermatol 2015, PMID 25494545
201555 people

Repigmentation 48.6% with the combination vs 33.3% with UVB alone at day 168, faster on face and arms, clearest in darker skin types.

Design
Randomized controlled trial (vitiligo)
Dose
16 mg implant monthly for 4 months plus narrowband UVB
Length
168 days

Lim et al., JAMA Dermatol 2015, PMID 25230094

Mixing your vial

Vial	Water	Common dose	Draw	Strength	Action
10 mg	2 mL	0.25 mg	5 units (0.05 mL)	5 mg/mL

Dose chart

10 mg vial

Syringe units for common doses at different water volumes. Select a cell to open it in the calculator.

Dose	Water added
Dose	1 mL	2 mL	3 mL
0.25 mg
0.5 mg
1 mg

U-100 insulin syringe: 100 units is 1 mL. Draws over 100 units show in mL. Faded values are under 2 units, which is hard to measure. Check that your vial holds the larger volumes.

Datasheet

Half-life: about 15 hours LabelApparent half-life with the 16 mg subcutaneous slow-release implant, in adults. Injected solution is not covered by the label.
Type: Peptide, 13 amino acids
Molecular weight: 1,646.8 g/mol
Formula: C₇₈H₁₁₁N₂₁O₁₉
Sequence: Ac-SYS[Nle]EH[D-Phe]RWGKPV-NH2
Storage before use: Not supplied as powder. The Scenesse implant is kept in a fridge at 2–8 °C (36–46 °F), protected from light.
After mixing or opening: Not applicable; the implant is inserted whole by a trained clinician.

Half-life: Scenesse prescribing information, clinical pharmacology (DailyMed, May 2026)
Molecule: PubChem CID 16197727 (afamelanotide)
Storage: Label Scenesse prescribing information, How Supplied/Storage (DailyMed, May 2026)

Cautions

Darkens skin and existing moles. The label recommends a full-body skin exam twice a year.
Nausea (19%) and implant-site reactions in label data.
The label warns of serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, reported since approval.
Never put the 16 mg implant dose into a syringe calculator.

Questions

What is Melanotan 1?

A longer-acting synthetic version of alpha-MSH that stimulates melanin production.

Is Melanotan 1 FDA-approved?

Approved in the US (2019) and EU as Scenesse, a 16 mg implant for adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria. Injected powder for tanning is unapproved.

What is the usual Melanotan 1 dose?

From the label (Scenesse, EPP): One 16 mg implant every 2 months, inserted by a clinician. A slow-release implant isn’t comparable to a 16 mg injection. From community reports, not established: Injection: 0.25 mg daily for 3–5 days, then 0.5–1 mg daily for 10–21 days, then 0.5–1 mg 2–3× per week. These are the amounts sources reference, not recommendations.

How much water do I mix Melanotan 1 with?

There’s no single right amount, because the water only sets the strength. With 2 mL of bacteriostatic water in a 10 mg vial, the strength is 5 mg/mL, so 0.25 mg is 5 units on a U-100 insulin syringe. More water makes small doses easier to measure. The dose chart above shows other volumes.

What is the half-life of Melanotan 1?

About 15 hours, according to the prescribing information. Apparent half-life with the 16 mg subcutaneous slow-release implant, in adults. Injected solution is not covered by the label.

How should Melanotan 1 be stored?

Not supplied as powder. The Scenesse implant is kept in a fridge at 2–8 °C (36–46 °F), protected from light. After mixing: Not applicable; the implant is inserted whole by a trained clinician.

Is Melanotan 1 banned in sport?

No. Not named on the 2026 list. As an approved drug (Scenesse), afamelanotide is outside S0 non-approved substances.

Has Melanotan 1 been studied in people?

Yes. The human studies section lists 4 published studies. The largest, from 2025, included 200 people. Quality of life rose from baseline (p<0.0001) and 91% of patients who started stayed on treatment; safety matched the trials.

Sources

Scenesse (afamelanotide) prescribing information (DailyMed, May 2026)

For the protocol details

Scenesse (afamelanotide) implant prescribing information (FDA, 2019)

Doses tagged Community come from public dosing guides and user reports, checked against at least two of them. Those sites aren’t named here because many of them sell peptides or earn commissions on them.

By Vial Guide editorsLast reviewed October 5, 2026

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