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№ 005

MT-1 (Melanotan I)

Tanning peptide that darkens your skin by driving melanin production. An alpha-MSH analog with a cleaner side effect profile than MT-2.

Pigment
Evidence: Strong

MT-1 (Melanotan I): Tanning peptide that darkens your skin by driving melanin production. An alpha-MSH analog with a cleaner side effect profile than MT-2. MT-1 mimics a hormone your body uses to make pigment in your skin.

FDA ⓘ
Approved
WADA
Not banned
Typical dose
Loading: 250-500 mcg sub-q daily for 2-3 weeks
Half-life ⓘ
~1 hour
Route ⓘ
Subcutaneous
Schedule
Daily loading → 1-2x weekly maintenance
In plain English

MT-1 mimics a hormone your body uses to make pigment in your skin. With sun or tanning-bed exposure, it gives you a darker tan from much less UV time. Cleaner side effect profile than the more popular MT-2.

Status & legalityWhat do these mean? →
Natty? ⓘ
Not natty
FDA ⓘ
Approved

Approved as Afamelanotide (Scenesse), 2019, for adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria.

Compounding ⓘ
Approved drug

Available as an FDA-approved drug, not a compounded peptide.

WADA ⓘ
Not listed
Prescribed ⓘ

Yes, Scenesse implant prescribed by dermatology / specialty providers for EPP. Off-label use for general pigmentation is outside the FDA approval.

Who it's for

  • →Light-skinned users wanting baseline tan with less UV time
  • →People who tried MT-2 and didn't tolerate the libido / nausea hit
  • →Anyone running it under medical context (Afamelanotide is the drug version)

What to expect

  1. Week 1

    Nausea at first doses. Slight darkening if UV exposure is paired.

  2. Week 4

    Visible pigmentation if you've actually been in the sun.

  3. Week 8

    Maintenance phase. Pigment holds with weekly dosing + occasional UV.

Looking at MT-1 (Melanotan I)? Your next 3 steps

  1. 1Work out your syringe units

    Vial size + BAC water turns into the exact units to draw for MT-1 (Melanotan I).

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  2. 2See what to stack & monitor

    The companion supplements and the bloodwork worth tracking on this kind of protocol.

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  3. 3Save it & ask the Coach

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How it works (mechanism)

Alpha-MSH analog that binds melanocortin receptors (primarily MC1R). MC1R activation in melanocytes triggers the eumelanin-production pathway, deepening skin pigment with UV exposure.

Dosing protocol

Members only

Stacks well with

Members only

Side effects

01Nausea (first doses, usually fades)
02Facial flushing
03Appetite suppression
04Mole / freckle darkening (mole-map first)
05Headache

When NOT to use

  • ⚠Personal history of melanoma
  • ⚠Atypical mole syndrome
  • ⚠Pregnancy / nursing

Common mistakes

  • • Skipping the mole-map baseline
  • • No UV exposure during the cycle (no pigment response)
  • • Confusing dosing protocol with MT-2

Drug & supplement interactions

  • ⚠MAO inhibitors theoretically amplify melanocortin response
  • ⚠Antihypertensives: melanocortins may slightly elevate BP
  • ⚠Use mole-mapping as monitoring; SSRIs may interact with mood-axis effects

The Pepdex take

Pepdex take: 500mcg loading for 14 days then 250mcg twice weekly is the standard pattern. Pigment holds cleanly with much less drama than MT-2, but the trade-off is real: tan ends up roughly 70% as deep as what MT-2 produces. MT-1 is the safer call though, no libido bump, no aggressive mole reactivity reports, no melanoma signal noise. If you want MT-2 results without the moles-and-libido conversation, this is the move. Take loading doses pre-bed to sleep through the nausea.
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AI Coach, live sample
Members only
is 250mcg of bpc enough for a knee injury?
For a knee, 250 mcg sub-q daily is the standard working dose and a solid place to start. The trick with BPC is consistency, give it weeks, not days. Inject close to the joint, run it 4-6 weeks, and don't drop below 200 mcg, it tends to stop cracking the threshold reliably down there. If it hasn't moved at all by week 3, that's when adding TB-500 earns its place.
how much bac water for a 10mg reta vial?
3 mL is the standard play for a 10 mg reta vial. That's 3,333 mcg/mL, clean unit math across the titration: 2 mg = 60 units, 4 mg = 120 units, 6 mg = 180 units on a 100-unit insulin syringe. Run 2 mL instead if you want fewer, more concentrated shots (5,000 mcg/mL, so 2 mg = 40 units). Since most people titrate up over ~12 weeks, 3 mL keeps the numbers cleanest.
what should i track on bloodwork for tirzepatide?
Lipid panel, ALT/AST (liver enzymes), and an A1C, baseline before you start then every 3 months. If you've got metabolic-syndrome history, add fasting glucose and insulin so you can actually watch insulin sensitivity improve. You don't need a big hormone panel for a GLP-1.

Ask the Coach anything about MT-1 (Melanotan I) or your own stack. This is it working.

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Frequently asked

What is MT-1 (Melanotan I)?+
MT-1 mimics a hormone your body uses to make pigment in your skin. With sun or tanning-bed exposure, it gives you a darker tan from much less UV time. Cleaner side effect profile than the more popular MT-2.
Is MT-1 (Melanotan I) FDA approved?+
Approved as Afamelanotide (Scenesse), 2019, for adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria.
Is MT-1 (Melanotan I) legal?+
MT-1 (Melanotan I) is not FDA-approved. It is sold by compounding pharmacies (with a prescription) and as "research only" by peptide vendors. Possession is generally not criminalized but distribution without authorization may be. Verify local laws.
Is MT-1 (Melanotan I) banned by WADA?+
MT-1 (Melanotan I) is not currently on the WADA prohibited list.
Are you still natty after taking MT-1 (Melanotan I)?+
No. MT-1 (Melanotan I) is a performance-enhancing peptide and would disqualify a strict natty claim.
Do doctors prescribe MT-1 (Melanotan I)?+
Yes, Scenesse implant prescribed by dermatology / specialty providers for EPP. Off-label use for general pigmentation is outside the FDA approval.
What's the typical dose of MT-1 (Melanotan I)?+
Dosing depends on your goal, experience, and tolerance. The full MT-1 (Melanotan I) protocol (dose, frequency, and how to titrate) is in the members section on the entry page.
What are the side effects of MT-1 (Melanotan I)?+
Common side effects include: Nausea (first doses, usually fades); Facial flushing; Appetite suppression; Mole / freckle darkening (mole-map first). Less common effects and full safety details are on the entry page.
How long until MT-1 (Melanotan I) starts working?+
Nausea at first doses. Slight darkening if UV exposure is paired.
What can you stack with MT-1 (Melanotan I)?+
MT-1 (Melanotan I) is commonly combined with complementary compounds. The full stacking protocol (what to pair, dosing, and timing) is in the members section on the entry page.
Where do people get MT-1 (Melanotan I)?+
Pepdex does not sell, ship, or recommend suppliers. MT-1 (Melanotan I) is not FDA-approved; prescription versions require licensed clinical care, and "research only" markets carry real legal and quality risks. /coa explains how to verify a Certificate of Analysis and /guides/scam-vendor-spotting covers the red flags.
MT-1 (Melanotan I) vs MT-2 (Melanotan II), which is better?+
MT-1 vs MT-2 for tanning: side effect profile, libido effects, FDA status, and which is gentler. Full head-to-head comparison: https://pepdex.co/compare/mt-1-vs-mt-2

Head-to-head with MT-1 (Melanotan I)

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MT-1 (Melanotan I) vs MT-2 (Melanotan II) →

More in Pigment

№ 011
MT-2 (Melanotan II)

Tans your skin harder than MT-1 and also bumps libido, but brings rougher side effects. A less selective alpha-MSH analog.