Hello everyone, I am new to the Forum. I am a 50 year old man with skin type 1 and have been into physical fitness most of my life. I have red hair and many freckles. I've spent many Summers in tanning beds, using tanning creams and overall a huge amount of effort in order to get and maintain a good tan over a few months of what short Summers we have. In Winter I go back to milky white.
So I ordered up a few bottles of melanotan 2, did a lot of research, posted on some bodybuilding Forums. This Forum seems to be the most specific to this product and I wanted to share my experience so far, and will update this log as I go along.
I mixed 2ml of bacteriostatic water into my melanotan 2 and did my first injection.
- Day 1-3 I only did 0.2mg of Melanotan 2. I have to tell you, during these 3 days I almost quit. Day 1, my face was flush almost immediately, bad stomach nausea, headache (and I never get headaches) Day 2 and 3 were progressively better.
- Day 3-7 I did 0.3 mg each day. Those side effects were pretty much gone but I did and do still get a feeling of being full.
- Day 3 I went to my first tanning bed session. I went in for 6 minutes. I've been to this tanning place before and they seem to have low intensity lights. We don't have too many around anymore and I suspect they don't change bulbs regularly. 6 minutes was enough to give me a slight burn, but expected as I had no sun for about 5 months of winter.
- Day 7-14 I did 0.4mg and no sides at all except the feeling full and I have to say I do feel lethargic. Is that normal?
I continue to tan 2 times a week only, 10 minutes each session. In the past in order to build a tan I would get to 20 minutes, 3 or 4 times a week. I can already see how this product is building a base very quickly.
- Day 14-21 I am up to 0.5mg per day. I really do feel tired often and getting out of bed is really tough. I have the advantage of someone running my business so I can get out of bed when I want. (So lucky)
My overview]- Tanning is consistent, 10 minutes does not burn me, every three or 4 days I go back to tan. I have to say I am EXTREMELY impressed with Melanotan 2.
- Other things I have read about are that freckles turn darker. I really have not noticed this as they obviously turn darker when you tan. I can see how my pale skin and my freckles are blending in almost to show an even tan.
- I do have about 3 or 4 "freckles" that are darker than the others but they are somewhat small, or not so noticeable.*
- I do not worry too much about my face/neck getting more sun that the rest of my body, at least for now, but I do tend to cover my face for half the tanning session.
- In 3 weeks I already have a tan that is close to equal to my best Summer tan. If I added my usual tanning creams, it would be equivalent. My goal is to not have to add creams.
- My guess is within a few weeks I will have the tan I want.*
My only questions at this point are]1) Can I lower the frequency of the dose and still increase my tan? Presently at 0.5mg / day
2) Is this lethargic tiredness normal? Is it going to get better? Or does it get better when I lower my dosage/frequency.
Thanks to anyone for reading and comments are appreciated.
On a side note, the side effect about libido an erections was intense for only a few days. Still nice morning erections but nothing too out of the ordinary. Remember I am 50 years old though. LOL
Hey KC, welcome to Melanotan Forum - thank you for sharing your MT-2 experience!
Tanning at super-physiologic levels is taxing indeed. Best advice is to lower the dosage and/or frequency. 250mcg every day or every couple days may suffice. I urge you to cover your face/head the majority of the time spent in the sunbed (don't want your to be too impressed w/ melanotan 2! haha).
Love all the info w/ regards to the desensitization, my feeling is that if you had lowered all your doses by half you would not be experiencing lethargy as side effect. Other side effects are normal for sensitive folks like you and I... Did the bodybuilding specific forum offer any particularly valuable insights?
The interference with the hunger signalling is interesting, do you find yourself rebounding (overeating) at all?
I predict your energy levels will level out & be back to normal in no time - please keep us posted KCinToronto!
I guess the reason I have not yet covered my face/neck is that at this point I get very little sun outdoors. I also shave my head so most of the time I have a hat on and sunscreen, especially on my head and face.* So you think I should still cover my face/head when tanning?
The bodybuilding websites offer a lot of advice and protocols. Some seem misleading, lots of people questioning why someone would inject something for a tan. If they only had type 1 skin. It can have such a negative effect on self-esteem, not to mention outdoor activities and simple vacationing decisions. If this works and the tan can last, it opens doors that have never been open for me, without crazy tanning times and tanning creams.
The thing I find the hardest to get my head around is for what reason the FDA would not approve this. Unless something really negative was discovered, the only thing I can think of is lobbyists for dermatologists that want you to have cancer? It wouldn't surprise me. Or sunbed lobbyists? (is there such a thing)
Other questions I have are if this affects any bloodwork results. If so what ones.*
Is 0.5mg/day considered a lot? The protocol I got from another site could go up to 1.0 mg/day, but I keep reading it is likely a waste to go that high. I've read, I think on here that once the tan you like is achieved, 0.2mg a couple times a week is enough combined with a couple of tanning sessions a week. That would be nice to get to there.
I think I'll start doing 0.5mg every 2 days now. See if my tan continues to get better gradually.
So I'm one more week in, (28 days) and the "tan" seems to have slowed quite a bit. Not sure if I should increase the sunbed or not. I only go twice a week for 10 minutes each, and I don't think it is the strongest beds. Hopefully we'll get some real warmth soon and can spend some time outside.
Thanks for responding and if you have any insite on if this affects bloodwork or why it is not FDA approved I'd appreciate it.
Of course any opinion/advice from other members is certainly appreciated as well.
This is my 4th spring with MT2. Last year I tried MT1 also, and I must say the side effects were non existent and I still achieved a dark tan. Im also a type 1.
Back to the point. AFter 4 years off and on, I still get tired feeling and nausea. If I use MT2 for 4 months. I have nausea for 4 months. Ive always had a super active immune system, and I suspect thats the issue I have. Ive tried taking everything from Benedryl to Zyrtec....doent make any difference. SUspect some of us have systems that continue to fight it no matter what. Is it doing any damage to me? That remains to be seen I guess. I also posted a couple of pics of my progress so far this spring.
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This is my 4th spring with MT2. Last year I tried MT1 also, and I must say the side effects were non existent and I still achieved a dark tan. Im also a type 1.
Back to the point. AFter 4 years off and on, I still get tired feeling and nausea. If I use MT2 for 4 months. I have nausea for 4 months. Ive always had a super active immune system, and I suspect thats the issue I have. Ive tried taking everything from Benedryl to Zyrtec....doent make any difference. SUspect some of us have systems that continue to fight it no matter what. Is it doing any damage to me? That remains to be seen I guess. I also posted a couple of pics of my progress so far this spring.
"
So even with the nausea you continue to use it? Can you tell me your regiment? My tanning seems to have really slowed. I may have to go back to taking it daily for it to progress. I don't want to hit sunbeds more than twice a week.
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I guess the reason I have not yet covered my face/neck is that at this point I get very little sun outdoors. I also shave my head so most of the time I have a hat on and sunscreen, especially on my head and face.* So you think I should still cover my face/head when tanning?
The bodybuilding websites offer a lot of advice and protocols. Some seem misleading, lots of people questioning why someone would inject something for a tan. If they only had type 1 skin. It can have such a negative effect on self-esteem, not to mention outdoor activities and simple vacationing decisions. If this works and the tan can last, it opens doors that have never been open for me, without crazy tanning times and tanning creams.
The thing I find the hardest to get my head around is for what reason the FDA would not approve this. Unless something really negative was discovered, the only thing I can think of is lobbyists for dermatologists that want you to have cancer? It wouldn't surprise me. Or sunbed lobbyists? (is there such a thing)
Other questions I have are if this affects any bloodwork results. If so what ones.*
Is 0.5mg/day considered a lot? The protocol I got from another site could go up to 1.0 mg/day, but I keep reading it is likely a waste to go that high. I've read, I think on here that once the tan you like is achieved, 0.2mg a couple times a week is enough combined with a couple of tanning sessions a week. That would be nice to get to there.
I think I'll start doing 0.5mg every 2 days now. See if my tan continues to get better gradually.
So I'm one more week in, (28 days) and the "tan" seems to have slowed quite a bit. Not sure if I should increase the sunbed or not. I only go twice a week for 10 minutes each, and I don't think it is the strongest beds. Hopefully we'll get some real warmth soon and can spend some time outside.
Thanks for responding and if you have any insite on if this affects bloodwork or why it is not FDA approved I'd appreciate it.
Of course any opinion/advice from other members is certainly appreciated as well.
KC
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Yes sir KC, I do recommend you pull back and lesson the time spent tanning your face/head. In the past when I was putting effort into my tan via the sunbeds I always covered (possibly after seeing photos of myself darker than a tan blonde, middle photo from melanotan log). You know best, however take note of mistakes of others - bb'ing forums are a great resource, they are innovators in the know w/ regards to new technology & performance enhancing drugs...
A shame about the regulatory bodies, it seems that if a biologic impacts more than a single pathway...it has no chance of gaining approval for specific treatment. Always thought to short the a-MSH agonist biotech companies stock (as we users know the low info voters cannot handle the potent peptide hormones, imho)* ]
I think I like your "too much" photo the most. LOL. Maybe for Summer or vacations. I don't think your face is too tanned in that one at all.
I'm looking for recommendations what I should change. Presently I am taking Melanotan at .5 mg every 2 days. I am tanning in a sunbed for 10 minutes, 2 times a week.
My tan is at a point where it is a tan, but won't seem to go darker.
Any recommendations? Do I increase my Melanotan to daily or do I increase my tanning.
The objective is to get to where I want and then back off. Maybe I backed off too soon?
I don't have either of those. heart rate is great and no anxiety at all. I do train often so that may help with the heart rate. I'm pretty aware of my body and might be over sensitive when something is "different".
To follow up, the side effects have minimized if I get any at all. That's at a .5mg dose every second day. I will experience the following]1) Nausea - Not even sure it is nausea, upset stomach is more like it. Lasts about a 1/2 hour post injection
2) Headache - Very mild, seems to be after injection and may be slight for a few hours after. This lessened when I took it daily. It's not enough to bother me.
3) Feeling tired - Seems to have gone. Energy level is back up.
4) I have been feeling bloated, but doc just put me on Testosterone cream and I believe it is from that. I recently read someone saying melanotan 2 made him bloat, but I don't think it is the melanotan with me.
Nothing else to report. So far so good, just want suggestions how to get darker.
I train as well, I'm in great shape in fact.* I think I'm just HYPER sensitive to stuff that shouldn't be in my body, coupled with a bit of paranoia.* But the sensation I got from 100mcg of Melanotan was intense, like really intense.* God knows how it would have been on 250-500.* I'm almost tempted to try it again in a morbidly curious kinda way!
John, are you confident your supplier is good? Or can you ask someone from your area where they are getting it from. I seem to be lucky in Canada and have two suppliers that seem legit. If I did .2 mg a day I don't think I'd even notice it in me. But who really knows the long term effects. I'd like to get to a nice darker color for Summer, and only do Melanotan2 twice a week and tan twice a week. I have no idea if that would maintain a color though. It may slowly fade at that rate. We'll see, I have not been able to lay in the sun yet as our Spring has really just started for a couple of week now.*
I'm getting the impression there really aren't that many active members on this board as questions don't seem to get answered by many people. Lots of info through search though which I appreciate.
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This is my 4th spring with MT2. Last year I tried MT1 also, and I must say the side effects were non existent and I still achieved a dark tan. Im also a type 1.
Back to the point. AFter 4 years off and on, I still get tired feeling and nausea. If I use MT2 for 4 months. I have nausea for 4 months. Ive always had a super active immune system, and I suspect thats the issue I have. Ive tried taking everything from Benedryl to Zyrtec....doent make any difference. SUspect some of us have systems that continue to fight it no matter what. Is it doing any damage to me? That remains to be seen I guess. I also posted a couple of pics of my progress so far this spring.
"
Out of interest why would you take mt2 if mt1 gave good results without the sides?
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John, are you confident your supplier is good? Or can you ask someone from your area where they are getting it from. I seem to be lucky in Canada and have two suppliers that seem legit. If I did .2 mg a day I don't think I'd even notice it in me. But who really knows the long term effects. I'd like to get to a nice darker color for Summer, and only do Melanotan2 twice a week and tan twice a week. I have no idea if that would maintain a color though. It may slowly fade at that rate. We'll see, I have not been able to lay in the sun yet as our Spring has really just started for a couple of week now.*
I'm getting the impression there really aren't that many active members on this board as questions don't seem to get answered by many people. Lots of info through search though which I appreciate.
KC
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Well nobody else seems to report issue with them, so maybe it's just me.* I've bought a single vial from another supplier to give it all one more go, if it makes me feel the same then I'll know I'm not cut out for it and can walk away from it.
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