Changes in Oral Mucosa Associated with Melanotan II Injections: A Case Report.
This case report describes a single patient who self-administered Melanotan II (an unlicensed synthetic melanocortin peptide analog) over 64 days to achieve a tanning effect, with a three-month follow-up period after discontinuation. At the initial intraoral examination, clinicians observed brown pigmentation on the attached gingiva of both the maxillary and mandibular arches, distributed in a near-symmetrical pattern with greater intensity in the anterior mandibular region. Additional irregularly shaped, poorly defined pigmented lesions were noted on both left and right buccal mucosa. Following cessation of injections, the buccal mucosal pigmentation had nearly resolved by the one-month follow-up. However, gingival pigmentation persisted at three months, albeit with noticeably reduced intensity. The authors note that Melanotan II acts primarily via melanocortin 1 receptor activation on melanocytes, stimulating eumelanin production independently of UV exposure. The report highlights a gap in the published literature regarding the timeline for resolution of oral pigmentation associated with Melanotan II use, positioning this case as a contribution to a sparse evidence base. Key limitations include the single-patient design, absence of histological confirmation, and inability to control for confounding factors.
Why this grade: Single case report with no control group and a three-month observational follow-up, providing only limited, anecdotal human evidence about oral mucosal changes associated with Melanotan II use.
This case report presents a three-month follow-up of a patient who self-administered Melanotan II injections over a period of 64 days with the goal of achieving a deeper tanning effect. Melanotan II is an unlicensed synthetic peptide analog belonging to the melanocortin hormone family. It acts primarily by activating melanocortin 1 receptors on melanocytes, stimulating eumelanin production and resulting in skin pigmentation independent of sun exposure. Despite its popularity, particularly through promotion on social media, Melanotan II remains unregulated, and its use is associated with a range of potential adverse effects. During the initial intraoral examination, brown pigmentation was observed on the attached gingiva in both the maxillary and mandibular arches. The lesions were almost symmetrically distributed, with a more intense coloration in the anterior region of the lower jaw. Additional pigmented areas with irregular shapes and poorly defined borders were noted on the left and right buccal mucosa. At the one-month follow-up after discontinuation of the injections, the buccal mucosal pigmentation had nearly disappeared. However, at the three-month follow-up, gingival pigmentation persisted, though with visibly reduced intensity. To date, there is a lack of published data specifically addressing the timeline for resolution of oral pigmentation associated with Melanotan II use, making this case a valuable contribution to the limited existing literature on the subject.
Educational summary of published research — not medical advice. License: cc by. Full text is shown only where licensing permits.