Peptide Library / Skin & Tanning
Melanotan-2
Also known as: MT-2 (see also the gentler Melanotan-1 / afamelanotide)
The tanning peptide — stimulates your own melanin production for a deep tan with a fraction of the sun exposure, plus the famous side benefit that launched PT-141.
| Typical research dose | 100–250 mcg to start (loading); 250–500 mcg 2–3× weekly maintenance |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Daily loading until desired shade, then maintenance |
| Route | Subcutaneous injection |
| Cycle length | Load, then maintain; break in off-seasons |
Figures reflect protocols commonly reported in the research community — not a prescription or a recommendation.
What it is
Melanotan-2 is a synthetic analog of alpha-MSH, the hormone that tells your pigment cells to produce melanin. The result: developing a tan with dramatically less sun exposure. Its cousin Melanotan-1 (afamelanotide) is an approved drug in Europe for a light-sensitivity disorder and is the gentler, more selective option — MT-2 is stronger and hits more receptor types, which is where both its extra effects and side effects come from.
What the research looks at
- Tanning / photoprotection — the core effect: increased melanin density, studied originally as skin-cancer prevention through "sunless tanning."
- Libido — MT-2's receptor spillover has a real aphrodisiac effect (a related molecule, bremelanotide/PT-141, was approved for exactly this).
- Appetite suppression — another spillover effect, usually unwanted.
How protocols are commonly structured
Start low: 100–250 mcg daily (nausea is common on the first doses and fades), loading daily until the desired shade develops over 1–3 weeks — with modest UV exposure, which is required to develop the tan. Then 250–500 mcg two to three times weekly maintains it. Fair-skinned users report needing the most patience and getting the most dramatic result. Two habits mark experienced use: start low (the first-dose nausea fades within a few uses), and keep a seasonal skin-check routine — melanin compounds darken existing moles, so knowing your own skin is part of running this one well.
Reconstitution & storage
Lyophilized powder; bacteriostatic-water reconstitution (calculator), refrigerate after mixing.
Research protocols, not a prescription — talk to a physician before touching anything.