Thymosin Beta-4 vs Melanotan 1
Side-by-side comparison of key properties, dosing, and research.
Recovery & RepairAnti-Aging & Longevity
Thymosin Beta-4Skin & CosmeticSexual Health & Libido
Melanotan 1- Summary
- Thymosin Beta-4 is an endogenous 43-amino acid peptide that is the primary intracellular actin sequestering peptide. It promotes tissue repair, reduces inflammation, regenerates hair follicles, and protects cardiac tissue. Closely related to TB-500 (the active fragment), it is used for systemic tissue recovery and anti-aging.
- Melanotan 1 (Afamelanotide) is a synthetic analog of α-MSH that selectively stimulates melanogenesis (tanning) through MC1R activation. It provides UV-independent skin pigmentation and is FDA/EMA-approved under the name SCENESSE for erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) and vitiligo.
- Half-Life
- Not well characterized; likely similar to TB-500 (~1–2 hours)
- ~40–60 minutes (free peptide); implant formulation (SCENESSE) releases over months
- Admin Route
- SubQ, IM
- SubQ
- Research
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- Typical Dose
- 5–10 mg
- 0.5–1 mg
- Frequency
- 2x per week (loading), then 1x per week (maintenance)
- Daily until desired color achieved, then maintenance
- Key Benefits
- Systemic tissue repair and regeneration
- Promotes cardiac recovery after myocardial infarction
- Hair follicle regeneration and anti-hair-loss
- Anti-inflammatory (systemic)
- Wound healing acceleration
- Neuroprotection after brain injury
- Protects against ischemia-reperfusion injury
- Anti-aging at cellular level
- Synergizes powerfully with BPC-157
- Induces skin pigmentation/tanning without UV exposure
- Provides photoprotection in photosensitivity conditions (EPP)
- FDA-approved for erythropoietic protoporphyria (SCENESSE)
- Approved in EU for EPP treatment
- Anti-inflammatory via MC1R
- Mild libido enhancement
- Potential skin cancer prevention through melanin protection
- Side Effects
- Generally very well tolerated
- Injection site reactions
- Mild fatigue at initiation (repair signaling)
- Rare: mild inflammatory response
- +1 more
- Nausea (especially at higher doses)
- Facial flushing
- Fatigue
- Injection site reactions
- +3 more
- Stacks With
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