Cosmetic

Melanotan I Dosing & Reconstitution Calculator

Alpha-MSH analog promoting melanin production for sunless tanning.

TL;DR - Melanotan I is a cosmetic peptide with a typical starting dose of 1 mg. For a 10 mg vial, add 2 mL bacteriostatic water to yield 5 mg/mL.
1 mg
Start Dose
10 mg
Vial
2 mL
BAC Water
5
mg/mL
1 mg draw on a 100-unit insulin syringe
010203040506070809010020 IUascendpeptide.org
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Track Melanotan I in Protocol Tracker
Frequently Asked
How do I reconstitute Melanotan I?
Add 2 mL of bacteriostatic water to a 10 mg vial, injecting slowly down the inside wall. Swirl gently; never shake. This yields a concentration of 5 mg/mL.
What is the recommended dose of Melanotan I?
A typical research dose is 1 mg. Consult the ASCEND calculator for your specific vial concentration and draw volume.
How many doses are in a Melanotan I vial?
A 10 mg vial reconstituted with 2 mL BAC water yields approximately 10 doses at 1 mg each.
How many IU is 1 mg of Melanotan I on a syringe?
With a 10 mg vial reconstituted in 2 mL bacteriostatic water, the concentration is 5 mg/mL. For a 1 mg dose: Volume = 1 mg ÷ 5 mg/mL = 0.2 mL. Draw to the 20 line on a 100-unit insulin syringe. You can adjust these values in the ASCEND calculator for any vial size.
What does a Melanotan I dosage calculator do?
A Melanotan I dosage calculator converts your vial size and BAC water volume into an exact syringe draw in IU. Enter your vial strength (10 mg), reconstitution volume (2 mL), and target dose to get the precise line to draw on an insulin syringe.
What is the Melanotan I reconstitution calculator formula?
Draw volume (mL) = Dose (mg) divided by Concentration (mg/mL). For a 10 mg vial with 2 mL BAC water: concentration = 5 mg/mL. For a 1 mg dose, the ASCEND calculator gives the exact IU line on your syringe instantly.
Peptide Intelligence
What is the mechanism of Melanotan I for tanning?
Melanotan I (afamelanotide) selectively activates MC1R on melanocytes, stimulating eumelanin production. Unlike Melanotan II, it has very low affinity for MC3R and MC4R, minimizing sexual side effects and appetite changes while providing potent tanning activity.
What is the half-life of Melanotan I?
The standard peptide has a very short half-life (~22 minutes). The prodrug form (Scenesse) uses a biodegradable implant providing controlled release over approximately 2 months. Research-grade Melanotan I is administered subcutaneously daily or every other day.
What is Melanotan I (afamelanotide) approved for?
Afamelanotide (Scenesse) is approved in the EU and US for erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), a painful photodermatosis, where it provides photoprotection by increasing melanin density. This is the only approved clinical indication for melanocortin-based tanning peptides.
Data last reviewed 2026-06-03 · Methodology →
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