Peptide data sheet
Melanotan 2
Skincare · Melanotan II · MT-II · MT2
Verdict
riskyThe risky label reflects documented and reported harms — changing moles, cases linked to melanoma, priapism, nausea, and unregulated gray-market supply — set against thin, mostly early human research.
By MrPepTalks Editorial
Reviewed for scientific accuracy · research information, not medical advice
Last updated Reviewed
Quick answer
Melanotan 2 (melanotan II) is a synthetic analog of the hormone alpha-MSH that acts on melanocortin receptors. It has been researched for skin pigmentation and for sexual arousal, but it is not FDA-approved and is sold only for laboratory research use. Regulators have warned against it, and dermatologists have documented changing moles, cases linked to melanoma, and priapism, so its verdict here is risky.
- Class
- Synthetic melanocortin receptor agonist (cyclic peptide analog of alpha-MSH)
- Half-life
- roughly 30 to 60 minutes (reported)
- FDA status
- Not FDA-approved for any use. Sold only as a research chemical for laboratory use; regulatory agencies have issued warnings against its sale and human use.
- WADA banned?
- No
Which form actually works?
Injectable (subcutaneous)
Risky
The form most of the early pigmentation and sexual-arousal research used, and the form most reported harms are described with. It carries the documented concerns discussed on this page, plus the contamination risk of unregulated supply.
Intranasal
Risky
A needle-free route people ask about. It has thinner research behind it than the injectable path, and case reports of concerning pigmented lesions include people using the intranasal route, so it carries the same risky framing rather than a safer one.
Third-Party Testing & Certificate of Analysis (COA)
A certificate of analysis (COA) is a lab document that reports what a specific batch of material actually contains. Reputable research suppliers publish one for every batch, tied to a lot number you can match against the vial you received.
- HPLC — purity
- High-performance liquid chromatography reports purity as a percentage: how much of the sample is the intended compound rather than impurities.
- Mass spectrometry (MS) — identity
- Mass spectrometry confirms identity by measuring the sample's molecular mass, so it matches the peptide the label names.
It also matters who ran the test. In-house results come from the seller's own lab; an independent third-party lab has no stake in the result, so its COA generally carries more weight. Look for a named testing laboratory, a batch or lot number, and a test date that lines up with the vial in hand.
New to reading one? This guide walks through a COA line by line: how to read a peptide COA.
Sources
- Ong S, Bowling J. Melanotan-associated melanoma in situ. Australas J Dermatol. 2012;53(4):301-302.
- Sivyer GW. Changes of melanocytic lesions induced by Melanotan injections and sun bed use in a teenage patient with FAMMM syndrome. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2012;2(3):0203a10.
- Nelson ME, Bryant SM, Aks SE. Melanotan II injection resulting in systemic toxicity and rhabdomyolysis. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2012;50(10):1169-1173.
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