Melanotan I is a research compound. It is not approved by the FDA or any regulatory body for human use. This article is for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing here constitutes medical advice. Consult a qualified physician before considering any peptide use.
Melanotan I is administered via subcutaneous implant (approved) or subcutaneous injection at 16 mg implant (FDA-approved); 0.025-0.3 mg/kg (research dosing) every 60 days (implant) or daily (injection). Subcutaneous injections into the abdominal fat or thigh are most common. Proper reconstitution with bacteriostatic water is required first.
How Do You Inject Melanotan I?
Melanotan I is administered via subcutaneous implant (approved) or subcutaneous injection. For most researchers, subcutaneous injection is the standard approach — it's simple, relatively painless, and effective for Melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) agonist compounds.
This guide covers injection technique, site selection, needle choices, and common mistakes.
How Do You Prepare for a Melanotan I Injection?
Step 1: Wash your hands thoroughly.
Step 2: Clean the top of the Melanotan I vial and BAC water vial with alcohol swabs. If not yet reconstituted, see our Melanotan I reconstitution guide.
Step 3: Draw your dose (16 mg implant (FDA-approved); 0.025-0.3 mg/kg (research dosing)) into an insulin syringe. Use our calculator for exact units.
Step 4: Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab and let it dry.
What Is the Correct Injection Technique?
Subcutaneous (most common): Pinch a fold of skin — typically abdominal fat 2+ inches from the navel, or the thigh. Insert the needle at a 45-degree angle. Push the plunger slowly and steadily. Hold for 5 seconds, then withdraw.
Intramuscular (less common for Melanotan I): Insert the needle at 90 degrees into the muscle (deltoid or vastus lateralis). This route provides faster absorption but isn't necessary for most peptide protocols.
Rotate injection sites to prevent lipodystrophy (fat tissue changes from repeated injections in the same spot).
What Size Needle Should You Use?
For subcutaneous Melanotan I injections, 29-31 gauge insulin needles (½ inch or 8mm) are standard. These are thin enough to be nearly painless while long enough for proper subcutaneous delivery.
Use a fresh needle for every injection. Never reuse or share needles.
Calculate Your Melanotan I Dose
Use our free peptide dosing calculator to get exact reconstitution math and syringe units for Melanotan I.
Open Calculator →What Are Common Injection Side Effects?
Mild redness, swelling, or itching at the injection site is normal and typically resolves within hours. Small bruises can occur, especially if you hit a capillary.
If you experience persistent pain, swelling, warmth, or redness lasting more than 24 hours, discontinue and consult a healthcare provider — these may indicate infection.
Bottom Line on Melanotan I Injection
Melanotan I is administered via subcutaneous implant (approved) or subcutaneous injection at 16 mg implant (FDA-approved); 0.025-0.3 mg/kg (research dosing) every 60 days (implant) or daily (injection). Subcutaneous injection with a 29-31 gauge insulin needle into abdominal fat is the standard technique. Rotate sites and use a fresh needle every time.
Complete Guide
Melanotan I : Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects & Research
Related Reading
- Melanotan I Dosage Guide
- Melanotan I Benefits
- Melanotan I Side Effects
- Melanotan I Stacking Guide
- Melanotan I Cycle Guide
- Melanotan I Research
Research-Grade Sourcing
If you're going to research Melanotan I, source matters. These are the suppliers WolveStack has vetted for purity and third-party testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Melanotan I?
Melanotan I (Afamelanotide) is a Melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) agonist. Synthetic α-MSH analog developed to stimulate melanin production through selective MC1R activation. It is researched for skin pigmentation, phototoxicity reduction in EPP patients, UV-free tanning.
What is the recommended Melanotan I dosage?
Common dosages: 16 mg implant (FDA-approved); 0.025-0.3 mg/kg (research dosing) administered every 60 days (implant) or daily (injection) via subcutaneous implant (approved) or subcutaneous injection. Cycle length: 60-day implant cycles; 4-8 weeks injection cycles. Half-life: ~2 hours circulating; implant provides 2-month depot release. Use our peptide calculator for exact reconstitution math.
What are the side effects of Melanotan I?
Milder than Melanotan II: fatigue, headache, facial flushing, nausea, development or darkening of freckles/moles. Slower onset than MT-II (weeks vs days). Generally considered safer.
Is Melanotan I safe?
Melanotan I has shown a preliminary safety profile in research. FDA-approved as Scenesse for EPP only (prescription). Not approved for cosmetic tanning. All research should follow appropriate safety protocols.