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Melanotan II (MT-2)
MT-2 is a fairly new biotech polypeptide and there is no other substance in the world that will increase melanin (skin pigment) production in humans. This is the only substance that will actually induce a tan in people. You DO NOT need any UV exposure to tan with MT-2, but it does expedite the process.
Melanotan I & II – from wikipedia, are analogs of the peptide hormone alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) that tend to induce skin tanning and, in the case of melanotan II, increase libido.
Both drugs were developed at the University of Arizona. Researchers there knew that one of the best defenses against skin cancer was a natural tan which has been slowly developed over weeks. They hypothesized that an effective way to reduce skin cancer rates in people would be to induce the body's natural tanning system to produce a protective tan prior to UV exposure. They knew the body's naturally occurring hormone alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) caused melanogenesis, a process by which the skin's tanning cells (melanocytes) produce the skin's tanning pigment (melanin). With that knowledge they tested to see if administering this hormone to the body directly could be an effective method to cause sunless tanning. What they found was that while it appeared to work, natural alpha-MSH had too short a half life in the body to be practical as a drug. So they decided to try and find a more potent and stable alternative, one that would be more practical.
After synthesizing and screening hundreds of molecules, the researchers headed by Dr. Victor Hruby, found a peptide that after trials and testing seemed to not only be safe but also approximately 1,000 times more potent than natural α-MSH. They dubbed this new peptide Melanotan. Since their discovery, numerous studies dating back to the mid-1980s have shown no obvious toxic effects of Melanotan. Because skin cancer (melanoma) today is a major health concern, Melanotan is expected to be used as a drug to combat it. Melanotan will do this by stimulating the body's natural tanning mechanism to create a tan without first needing exposure to harmful levels of UV radiation. This in turn will reduce the potential for skin damage that can eventually lead to skin cancer.
Melanotan I
Melanotan has the amino acid sequence Ac-Ser-Tyr-Ser-Nle-Glu-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val-NH2 or [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH. Melanotan is currently being tested and developed under the name CUV1647 by the Australian company Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals, for indications such as Polymorphous Light Eruption (PMLE) and Actinic Keratosis (AK).
Melanotan I has not been sparking the interest of the public near as much as Melanotan II. See below as to why:
Melanotan II
Melanotan II has aphrodisiac properties. It is a cyclic lactam analog of alpha-MSH with the amino acid sequence Ac-Nle-cyclo[Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-NH2. Palatin Technologies of New Jersey has developed another hormone targeted towards Sexual dysfunction based upon melanontan II which they call Bremelanotide (formerly called PT-141). Bremelanotide is a metabolite of melanotan II that lacks the C-terminal amide function. Bremelanotide is currently in clinical trials to treat erectile dysfunction and sexual arousal disorder.
How it works:
MT-2 is a chemical analogue of a something the body naturally produces
called alpha-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone (a-MSH). A-MSH is what induces skin cells called melanocytes to produce melanin -- the pigment that tans a person's skin and is responsible for the various colors of skin around the world in humans.
MT-2 out competes a-MSH for binding to melanocyte receptors in humans and other mammals because it has a binding affinity over 1000x more potent than
a-MSH. Therefore only milligrams are needed to do what would normally take lots of a-MSH to do.
When you are exposed to UV rays (whether tanning bed or sunshine) your body produces more a-MSH, hence the eventual tan. However, genetically pale people fall into one of two categories. They either do not sufficiently produce enough a-MSH, or their melanocytes have a weak affinity for a-MSH.
MT-2 overcomes both of these limitations. Anybody can get as dark as they like with MT-2, it is simply a matter of dosage - the more you take, the darker you will get. The tan is 100 % real, so it fades as slowly as a real tan once you stop using (3-4 weeks or more).
The only people MT-2 will not work for are pure albinos -- their melanocyte receptors have zero affinity, thus even MT-2 simply cannot bind and hence they have no skin pigmentation. MT-2 will work unequivocally for everyone else, even very pale redheads can get very dark.
How it is used:
You need to be properly informed in the storing and usage of peptides
-- they denature rapidly if you mishandle them.
If you order 30 mg (which is a sufficient amount for a first-time beginner cycle) you will receive your 30 mg of "lyophilized" (it means
"freeze-dried") MT-2.
Put two vials in the freezer (deep freeze if you have one) -- DO NOT
RECONSTITUTE (reconstitute just means "mix" with bacteriostatic water) these vials. Just freeze them as is. If you do not have a freezer, the fridge is perfectly fine as well. The peptide should last for a long time.
Then with the vial you are going to be using, reconstitute (mix with
bacteriostatic water).
To mix the vial with bact water, take one of the syringes (BD Ultrafine II 1cc or 1/3 cc are excellent and I recommend them) and grab your bacteriostatic water. If using a 1 cc syringe (100 units) use the syringe to withdraw 1 full ml (1cc) and inject that into the vial of MT-2 through the rubber. Be sure to aim the needle towards the glass, so that it will trickle down. Swirl the vial to thoroughly mix and let the peptide dissolve.
So now you have 100 units (1cc) of bacteriostatic water mixed with 10 mg of MT-2 in your vial.
Then inject roughly 100 units (1 cc) of air into the vial so that the vial is not a vacuum -- otherwise withdrawing peptide will be tricky because of suction in the vial (not all vials have vacuum, so don’t worry). Don't inject too much air into the vial; otherwise the air pressure will push too much air back into the syringe when you try to withdraw the peptide for injection. Around 100 units usually works fine -- the "units" I'm using as a ref. for injecting are on the side of the syringes (100 unit = one full syringe).
Now, that the vial is mixed (reconstituted), when you withdraw 10 units of the substance, that equals 1 mg of MT-2. So 30 units would equal 3 mg, get the idea? (NOTE: this is just for example)
Now you're ready for subcutaneous injection. If you've never performed sub-q injection before, it's very simple, and if done right, you literally don't feel anything. The needles used for sub-q injection are extremely small (8 mm) and you only go in 5 mm or so -- just into fatty tissue beneath skin. NOT intravenous or intramuscular this is a bit more complicated. Certain diabetics perform sub-q injections with the same tiny needles you'll be using two-three times a day.
You can use the same syringe you used to add the bacteriostatic water to the vial for your first injection. But never use the same syringe twice on yourself -- this is a universal rule no matter what you're injecting. Syringes and bacteriostatic water are extremely cheap and you can get them with ease.
You will store the reconstituted (mixed) vial in your fridge -- NOT your freezer like the others.
The recommended dose for the first timer is roughly .5mg after dinner. Dosing at night can help avoid any possible nausea. Nausea typically goes away after the first couple doses. Listen to your body, it's nothing to be alarmed about, it's perfectly normal. Your body is simply finding a new homeostasis as it acclimates to the peptide in your blood. Your body adjusts within 2-4 days at the latest and you will never have any nausea again -- unless you come off MT-2 for a long time (over 2 months) and then resume heavy dosing. So remember, the nausea is COMPLETELY normal and entirely goes away. The harder and more frequent erections as a side effect however will persist for as long as you are taking MT-2. MT-2 is more powerful than Viagra in this regard, and that is why we are interested in the analogue version of MT-2 called PT-141 to treat ED as well!
After a few days of .5mg (1/20th of a vial), work up to where you can take a dose around 1mg. Play with the dose until desired shade of tan is achieved. From there, maintenance dosing is minimal (ie: .5mg every 3-4 days). Any dosing chart stating that you should take higher than 1mg is outdated and dangerous.
Remember, the lyophilized MT-2 (freeze dried) will last in your freezer for a couple years. But once mixed with bact water, the MT-2 will degrade. YOU MUST STORE THE RECONSTITUTED MT-2 in the REFRIGERATOR -- NOT freezer. Also, there is no magic pill or formula here. Trial and error are critical to learning. Share your melanotan experience so that our research continues to prosper!
FAQ
“How long does the tan last?”
The tan is 100% real, and lasts as long as it would to another person naturally.
“I was wondering about the side effect of erections. Are they completely spontaneous, or a result of increased libido?”
The aphrodisiac side effects (or perks, depending how you look at it) are dose dependant. Taking too much can make it hard to ignore. Taking the average 1mg dose seems to yield all the right feelings! See the Bremelanotide FAQ for more information on this subject.
“How much UV exposure (sun or bed) is needed for MT-II to work?”
On average, with a moderate tanning schedule, a ballpark # would be three weeks tanning 2-3x/wks.
“What would happen if someone used MT II and didn't get any UV exposure? Would they still tan?”
You will develop a tan without sun exposure when using melanotan. However, the tan you could achieve with UV exposure would be much more natural looking and desirable.
“I have been taking melanotan II for about 2 weeks, doing 2 1ml injections daily, have seen great results already, just a little worried about these very dark dots I am developing over my body, is it normal or should I be worried.”
The dark spots some get at certain stages of their melanotan use are referred to as hyperpigmentation. They seem to be areas of previous UV or sun damage. They are mole-like and persistant (will not go away by on their own). However, as the rest of your tan emerges, they will be less noticeable.
“Since I have been taking the drug I have noticed increased muscle mass from working out, does this drug have any benefits in building muscle or is it just in my mind?”I too noticed an increase in muscle strength while I was on melanotan II and thought it was in my mind, but now that you mention it....
