Melanotan 2 dosage protocol

Melanotan 2 dosing follows a two-phase approach: a loading phase (daily dosing to build melanin production) followed by a maintenance phase (reduced frequency to sustain results). This page covers MT2 reconstitution, the standard dosing protocol, skin-type adjustments, injection technique, and timing with UV exposure.

Melanotan 2 dosage: reconstitution

Melanotan 2 is supplied as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder, typically in 10 mg vials. It must be reconstituted with bacteriostatic water before use. The standard reconstitution is 1 mL (100 units on an insulin syringe) of bacteriostatic water per 10 mg vial, producing a concentration of 100 mcg per unit (0.01 mL). Some users prefer 2 mL for easier volume measurement, producing 50 mcg per unit. Inject the water slowly down the inside wall of the vial, swirl gently until dissolved, and refrigerate. Do not shake. Reconstituted MT2 is stable for approximately 30 days refrigerated at 2–8°C.

Melanotan 2 dosage: loading phase

The loading phase is the initial period of daily MT2 dosing designed to build melanin production to a visible level. Most protocols start with a low dose and titrate upward to manage side effects (particularly nausea and flushing).

Loading typically lasts 2–4 weeks depending on skin type and target color. Fitzpatrick Type I–II may need 3–4 weeks. Type III–IV often reach target color in 2–3 weeks. Some users load at higher doses (750–1,000 mcg/day) for faster results, but higher doses produce more intense side effects — particularly nausea — with diminishing marginal returns on melanin production. The 500 mcg loading dose represents the community consensus for the best balance of efficacy and tolerability.

Melanotan 2 dosage: maintenance phase

Once the desired tan is achieved, dosing frequency drops from daily to 1–2 times per week. The maintenance dose remains at 500 mcg per injection — only the frequency changes. Some users with very responsive skin (Type III–IV) can maintain their tan with as little as 500 mcg once every 10–14 days. Very fair-skinned users (Type I) may need 2× per week to prevent noticeable fading.

The maintenance phase can continue indefinitely. Melanin production remains elevated as long as MC1R stimulation continues. When maintenance is discontinued, the tan fades gradually over 1–3 months through natural skin cell turnover.

Melanotan 2 dosage: injection protocol

MT2 is administered as a subcutaneous injection using an insulin syringe (29–31 gauge, ½-inch needle). The standard injection site is the lower abdomen (at least 2 inches from the navel), though the thigh and upper arm are also used. Rotate injection sites to prevent lipodystrophy. Inject at a 45-degree angle into a pinch of skin, inject slowly, hold for 5 seconds, withdraw.

Most protocols recommend dosing in the evening, 4–6 hours before any planned UV exposure the following day. This timing allows MT2 to begin stimulating melanocytes before UV exposure amplifies the signal. Some users dose immediately before bed to sleep through the nausea and flushing side effects.

Melanotan 2 dosage: half-life and timing

Melanotan 2 has a relatively short plasma half-life of approximately 1 hour. However, the biological effect (MC1R activation and downstream melanin synthesis) persists much longer than the peptide's plasma presence — melanin production continues for 24–48 hours after a single dose. This disconnect between plasma half-life and biological effect is why daily dosing during loading is effective despite the short half-life, and why maintenance can be spaced to 1–2× per week once melanin stores are established.