Melanotan 1 (MT-1 / Afamelanotide)

Melanotan 1 (MT-1 / Afamelanotide) — frequently asked questions

• What is Melanotan 1 (MT-1 / Afamelanotide)?

  Melanotan 1 (afamelanotide) is a synthetic analog of alpha-melanocyte–stimulating hormone that preferentially activates MC1R to increase eumelanin production and photoprotection with minimal central melanocortin activity.

• What is the half-life of Melanotan 1 (MT-1 / Afamelanotide)?

  Melanotan 1 (MT-1 / Afamelanotide) has an approximate half-life of Approximately 30–60 minutes (systemic peptide); depot/implant formulations provide prolonged exposure (days).. The half-life determines how often you need to inject to maintain steady blood levels — use the Peptides Calculator half-life calculator to plot your specific dosing schedule and see the decay curve.

• How is Melanotan 1 (MT-1 / Afamelanotide) administered?

  Melanotan 1 (MT-1 / Afamelanotide) is typically delivered via subcutaneous injection in research settings; clinical use includes controlled-release subcutaneous implant.. The Peptides Calculator app helps you reconstitute the vial with bacteriostatic water, calculate your exact dose in syringe units, and track each injection.

• How does Melanotan 1 (MT-1 / Afamelanotide) work?

  Agonizes melanocortin-1 receptors on melanocytes, upregulating cAMP/PKA signaling to enhance melanogenesis (eumelanin), increase melanosome transfer, and improve cutaneous photoprotection.

• What are the researched benefits of Melanotan 1 (MT-1 / Afamelanotide)?

  Studied benefits of Melanotan 1 (MT-1 / Afamelanotide) include: Increases skin pigmentation (eumelanin), Enhances photoprotection and reduces UV sensitivity, May decrease UV-induced erythema/DNA damage, Lower incidence of nausea vs. MT-2 in many reports. These are research findings only — Peptides Calculator does not provide medical advice; consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any peptide protocol.

• What are the side effects of Melanotan 1 (MT-1 / Afamelanotide)?

  Reported side effects of Melanotan 1 (MT-1 / Afamelanotide) include: Flushing or facial warmth, Headache or mild nausea, Injection-site irritation, Freckle/mole darkening and hyperpigmentation, Rare: increased blood pressure or fatigue. Always discuss potential side effects with a licensed healthcare provider before using any research peptide.