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Afamelanotide

Also known as Scenesse, Melanotan I, [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH

The approved, regulated cousin of Melanotan II. It does darken skin, but it is licensed only for a rare disease that makes light painful, and it is not available for cosmetic tanning.

Information only. Not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before you start, stop or change anything.

What people claim

  • A tan without the sun
  • Protects your skin from UV damage
  • The safe version of Melanotan

What the evidence shows

  • Regulators approved it after controlled trials in erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), where it increased the time patients could spend in light without pain.[1][3]
  • It works by making skin cells produce eumelanin, the brown-black pigment, and trials measured an increase in melanin density.[1][2]
  • There are no trials of cosmetic tanning in healthy people, and darker skin does not replace sunscreen.[1]
  • "Safe version of Melanotan" is misleading. Its safety record comes from supervised specialist use, not from unregulated products sold online.[1][4]

Known risks

  • In FDA's review, implant site reactions affected 20% of people against 10% on placebo, and skin darkening was reported as a side effect.[1]
  • Other reported reactions include nausea, tiredness, dizziness and new moles. A full-body skin check twice a year is recommended.[1]
  • Products sold online as "Melanotan I" are unregulated and may not contain what the label says.[4]

Reported side effects

Moderated user reports are not open yet, so nothing is shown here. They will be labelled as unverified personal accounts.

Legal status

A summary, not legal advice. Rules change, and sport bans are separate.

United States

Prescription, EPP only

FDA approved in 2019 for adults with EPP. Given as an implant by trained clinicians.[1]

United Kingdom

Prescription, EPP only

Licensed for EPP and used by specialist centres. Not for tanning.

Australia

Prescription, EPP only

TGA approved to prevent light reactions in adults with EPP.[3]

European Union

Prescription, EPP only

Authorised by the EU in 2014 for EPP.

Sources

  1. 1.Scenesse (afamelanotide) multidisciplinary reviewUS FDA, 2019
  2. 2.AfamelanotideLiverTox, US National Library of Medicine
  3. 3.Scenesse: Australian product decisionTGA Australia
  4. 4.Importing, compounding and supplying unapproved peptide productsTGA Australia

Profile last checked 7 Nov 2026.