Afamelanotide research currently underway

Melanin is produced by the body to protect the skin against harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. For increased secretion of melanine, spending more hours while basking in the sun will most likely achieve this effect. Artificially, people have been using a drug known as melanotan to pigment skin. Administered through injection, the medication contains active ingredients for melanin production. A sister drug by the name afamelanotide has been under research in Australia among other countries. Aesthetic skin tanning makes use of the drug which is also popular among bodybuilders. Hitherto, tanning the skin artificially was a bit complicated.

Melanotan heightens the production of melanin. Thus the more injections one has of this or afamelanotide, the more your skin will produce pigmentation. Apart from tanning the skin, melanotan and its afamelanotide generic can also work to increase appetite, libido and pigmentation of human hair. The production of this generic drug is highly regulated but that does not stop its usage especially among teenagers and people who find skin tanning irresistible. People in the fashion industry and celebrities tan their skins for reasons associated with their career.

Afamelanotide is administered through injections. It is a synthetic version of melanotan that acts in a similar way to the natural alpha melnocyte stimulating hormone, a-MSH. The hormone’s work to stimulate melanocytes, which are cells lying in the human outer skin or epidermis. These cells produce melanin whenever your skin is exposed to the sun. Melanin consequently protects your skin from adverse effects of sunlight. As a result, light skin appears tanned. People with dark skin have got more melanocytes and are protected from cancer of the skin.

The research and development in production of afamelanotide aims to come up with a medical substance that not only heightens skin tanning but also help people with other skin conditions. Such conditions are manifested in skin burns and damage following exposure to sunlight. In the meantime, melanotan injections continue to be used for skin tanning. Results from early trials with afamelanotide have produced positive results. Afamelanotide could be very useful in people whose skin is prone to Ultra violet rays damage.

Melanotan can be bought online or in beauty shops. However, in the United Kingdom its sale is regulated to licensed outlets. More trials are expected to be conducted by the manufacturers of afamelanotide. The successful production of this drug will be hailed as a huge achievement.

Clinical authorities have emphasized on the need for caution in using melanotan. Gyms, salons and online traders are selling it illegally. You are strongly advised against using injections belonging to other people. Doing so will put you on a high risk of contracting viral infections and this includes Aids. Consult dermatologists and other skin experts before any melanotan usage. Melanotan should be bought from legally licensed medical drugs dealers. Perhaps afamelanotide is the solution that researchers have been looking for dealing with sunburns and non melanoma cancer. We can only wait for the outcome of research being undertaken in countries like USA, UK and Australia.

Scott is the author of this article on Melanotan. Find more information on Afamelanotide here.