subject: Melanotan 2, What Does It Do? [print this page] Melanotan is a synthetic version of a naturally occurring peptide hormone found in the body, scientifically known as: alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (a-MSH).
It was originally synthesized for research purposes by scientists in the University of Arizona to battle skin cancer. They believed that by activating more melanin in the body you would speed up the natural process (melanogenesis) to be able to tan quicker, therefore giving yourself more protection against harmful UV rays. Initially they screened and synthesized hundreds of different molecules to find a peptide that could help battle "Melanoma", around 75% of the deaths related to skin cancer are caused by this disease.
They ended up with what we now know as Melanotan which is 1000 times more potent than your bodies natural a-MSH. So by administering Melanotan via tanning injections (this is the most effective way), the natural cycle (melanogenesis) is sped up by activating the skins melanocyte pigment cells in order to produce more melanin, which in turn helps you to achieve an all over tan without staying in the sun all day.
There have been some known side effects when using Melanotan. People have experienced mild nausea when initially beginning their course and sometimes flushing of the face, there have also been reports of increased libido/sexual appetite. In 1998 a study was published by the department of pharmacology (which is based in the University of Arizona's college of medicine) stating that men who suffer with "erectile dysfunction" could administer Melanotan and achieve a "spontaneous erection" with manageable side effects, it should also be noted that in some cases females have had an increase in their rate of arousal/sex drive.
Administration is usually done via tanning injections for the best results, but there are other ways to use Melanotan, some of these include: nasal sprays, pill form and implants. The pill form and implant versions are not as effective as the nasal sprays and tanning injections, they are also still being used in clinical trials. The Melanotan nasal sprays have been widely used, yet they take longer to produce the desired effects although some people prefer to use them instead of injecting.
