If you’re a regular in bodybuilding and fitness groups, you have most likely found these posts from fellow fitness enthusiasts like the one below intending to give you a good chuckle or two.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sarms.peptides.nootropics/permalink/866255864229812
Pretty unrealistic, but still funny. However, what if we told you that this phenomenon’s not really far from happening? Well, not to the extent like the guy on the right, but can help you look like a bronze sculpture as a bodybuilder.
Not only that but there’s an existing compound that can help you tan, regulate your appetite, and increase your libido all in one go – Melanotan-II.
Melanotan 2 – What Is It?
Also known as Melanotan II, or simply just MT-II, is a non-selective receptor agonist derived from Melanotan I (MT-I) both of which are synthetic forms of α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), a naturally-producing hormone found in the pituitary gland.
MT-II was originally developed in the 1980s to help increase the pigmentation of the skin making it popular for various communities such as the tanning and bodybuilding spaces. However, its side effects extended to help increase libido and appetite regulation.
MT-II works because it is a non-selective agonist of multiple melanocortin receptors meaning it can signal these receptors by binding to and activating namely the MC1R, MC3R, and MC4R which we’ll get to later.
So, what are the common uses of Melanotan-II?
MT-II has two primary benefits: increasing both skin pigmentation (tanning) and sex drive for both men and women.
Fun Fact: The latter side effect of Melanotan II (maybe a benefit) was actually discovered by scientists at the University of Arizona by accident.
As the researchers were experimenting with the effects of Melanotan II on human skin pigmentation (tanning), one of the scientists injected themselves with twice the recommended dose of the compound and found themselves wrangling with nausea and vomiting, along with an eight-hour erection.
How Does Melanotan 2 Work?
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MT-II works by non-selectively binding to the melanocyte receptors and activating them through “mimicking” the action of melanocortin peptides. Some of the receptors MT-II binds to are involved with the regulation of skin and hair pigmentation, energy homeostasis, appetite regulation, and libido.
To better understand why melanocortin receptors are important to us, we’ll break down functions and roles in various physiological processes:
MC-1R – Also known as the melanocortin-1 receptor, MC-1R regulates skin pigmentation and is located on the surface of melanocytes, which are cells that produce melanin – a substance that determines our skin, hair, and eye color.
When this receptor is activated (in this case, activated by MT-II through binding), the receptor stimulates the melanocytes to boost melanin production (melanogenesis), causing your skin to darken without any direct exposure to the sun, although weaker than MT-I.
However, some studies discovered that tanning caused MT-II may be unevenly distributed to different parts of the body namely in the face, upper body, and buttocks.
MC-2R – The melanocortin-2 receptor regulates corticosterone/cortisol production in the adrenal glands through a protein called the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) receptor, which are hormone-producing glands located on top of each of our kidneys.
Unfortunately, both MT-I and MT-II have limited affinity with MC-2R as they have higher affinity with other melanocortin receptors such as MC-1R, so we won’t discuss this particular receptor further.
MC-3R – The melanocortin-3 receptor (MC-3R) is a G-protein coupled receptor that regulates food and alcohol consumption, and emerging studies have concluded that MC-3R can also regulate growth, puberty, and circadian rhythms.
MC-4R – The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is found mainly in the hypothalamus and is responsible for regulating energy homeostasis.
Both MC-3R and MC-4R are heavily implicated in inducing erection in men and sexual arousal in women, according to several human and animal studies.
MC-5R – The melanocortin-5 receptor is mainly found in the exocrine glands. There is still limited research on this last melanocortine receptor but research suggests that MC-5R is mainly responsible for various physiological processes such as thermoregulation, the synthesis and secretion of exocrine-related products like sebum, and inflammatory responses.
Melanotan 2 vs 1
MT-I and its derivative MT-II are both forms of α-MSH non-specific receptor agonists that bind to multiple melanocortin receptors such as affecting skin pigmentation, regulating appetite, and influencing immune system function.
However, while they are closely similar in terms of usage and ability to influence melanocortin receptors (excluding MC-2R), they differ in terms of molecular structure and affinity to the receptors themselves.
Since the molecules of MT-I are closely related to α-MSH more than MT-II (particularly in skin pigmentation), this may influence their binding affinities to the same melanocortin receptor.
In simpler terms: Thanks to its molecules, MT-I has a stronger affinity binding with MC-1R which results in stronger skin pigmentation, whereas MT-II has a stronger affinity binding with MC-4R resulting in stronger effects on libido and arousal.
Benefits
Increased Skin Pigmentation
According to a qualitative study published in 2021, the most common usage of Melanotan-II is to reap the benefits of tanning without actually exposing your skin to the sun for long periods or resorting to fake tanning methods.
As Ultraviolet (UV) exposure increases the production of a substance called melanin to absorb its harmful effects, melanin is also responsible for determining our skin, hair, and eye color – affecting your skin color over time to a more tanned color, which makes it popular in the tanning and bodybuilding community.
Available human studies involving Melanotan-II suggest that MT-II can help significantly darken human skin tone in low doses.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1491148117686825/permalink/2571170769684549
Note: We are not affiliated with Unchained SARMS Europe or any kind of store that sells research compounds.
Appetite Regulation
While some sources claim that MT-II can directly help in weight loss, there are no conclusive studies or clinical trials that support this idea.
However, a side effect of MT-II is decreased appetite. This side effect could be valuable for researchers interested in exploring its effects alongside other potential benefits.
According to a 2017 study examining the chronic effects of MT-II on energy homeostasis, MT-II was tested on 6-month-old rats over 40 days. The researchers found that the rats administered with MT-II suppressed their appetites and chronically reduced body mass compared to those without.
The researchers also noted that adding MT-II as a secondary pharmacological approach alongside controlled eating may be very effective in fighting obesity, suggesting that MT-II can be used to suppress appetite, leading to consuming fewer calories and naturally losing weight over time.
Side Effects
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sarms.peptides.nootropics/permalink/1173337026855026
A common question among researchers would be “Does Melanotan 2 have side effects? If they do, what are they?”
Like any other substance, it will always carry some risk of side effects. Short-term side effects of MT-II may include the following:
- Frequent yawning and stretching
- Reduced appetite
- Nausea and vomiting on higher doses
- Flushed skin
- Erections that can last 1-5 hours after administration (priapism)
- Skin discoloration due to excessive MT-II usage, such is the case below:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sarms.peptides.nootropics/permalink/1495235327998526
Yawning and nausea are the most prevalent side effects, although this may depend on the administered dosage and individual.
According to a 2000 study on the effects of melanocortin receptor agonists (such as MT-II) on humans, nausea and yawning were the most frequent side effects, and about 2.9% of participants experienced severe nausea when administered a dose of 0.025 mg.
We also do not recommend using MT-II for extended research periods as long-term usage may also lead to increasing the risk of Melanoma, Melanonychia, Rhabdomyolysis, and liver failure for your subjects.
Increased Libido
While this is commonly known as a benefit for most individuals particularly those who suffer erectile dysfunction (ED), increasing libido is not the primary objective of MT-II. In this case, we’ll label it as a side effect.
Several animal and human studies suggest that Melanotan-II can increase libido in both men and women and has very manageable side effects when administered at low doses:
In animal studies, a 2003 clinical trial reported that Melanotan-II induced penile erections and yawning in awake male rats.
In a separate study published in 2006, the researchers concluded that MT-II combined with estradiol benzoate enhanced sexual desire in a group of female rats.
For human studies, a placebo-controlled clinical trial published in 1998 reported that 8 of 10 men administered with 0.025 mg dose of Melanotan-II had erections over 6 hours.
The participants also reported manageable side effects such as nausea, frequent yawning and stretching, and decreased appetite than the placebo group.
Verdict: Should You Use Melanotan 2?
So, does MT-II really help in a lot of things? Based on the above-mentioned studies, MT-II may help researchers tan their subjects faster, while its off-label benefits are great concerning appetite regulation and determining erectile dysfunction (ED).
If you are primarily considering using MT-II for the latter off-label benefit, we recommend stacking it with other libido enhancers for the full experience.
For example, let’s say that you have a “flat tire”, and you really want to get it back into tip-top shape in order for it to perform well. Now, think of MT-II as the “air compressor” to quickly pump your tire to where you need it to be.
There’s also the option to add supplements such as Boron, Viagra, and/or Cialis to fully “inflate” the tire, pumping it up for a little bit more so that you have some extra room for “errors” during the ride home.
Of course, it’s important to note that MT-II will react differently depending on the individual since there are different melanocyte concentration levels in everyone. Some people may experience tanning faster than others, and some individuals may experience different effects on ED as well.
FAQs
Is melanotan a steroid?
No, Melanotan-II is a synthetic peptide. It is classified as a non-selective receptor agonist and a form of α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone. It does not cause any adverse reactions that are commonly associated with steroid use.
Is melanotan legal in the US?
Yes. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), both Melanotan-I and Melanotan-II are not yet approved for human use and are thus illegal in all 50 states as well as other countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom.
Can melanotan 2 cause skin cancer?
Theoretically, Melanotan-II should be a good defense against skin cancer as it stimulates the melanocytes to produce more melanin – a great absorber of UV rays.
However, too much melanin can still harm you. Severely damaged melanocytes can become the source of cancerous cells and develop melanoma – a type of skin cancer.
According to a 2014 report, a 20-year-old woman with Fitzpatrick Skin Type-II was diagnosed with melanoma (through melanocytic lesions) three months after she self-injected MT-II for 3-4 weeks as an aid to enhance sunbed tanning.
