Afamelanotide is a man-made variation of a substance found in the skin called alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone. The hormone typically stimulates the release of melanin, a pigment-producing substance that can protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation. Similar to the natural hormone, afamelanotide generally has 13 amino acids, two of which were altered from the original compound to make the substance last longer. It usually takes up to two days for darker pigments to form under the skin after the drug is taken, and the effects can last for up to two months.
Researchers believe the drug can protect the skin from sun damage. It can also protect some people from skin cancer, especially those who react adversely to sunlight or have received organ transplants. Afamelanotide is typically used to treat a condition that causes skin to swell and scar in response to sunlight, and can increase one’s tolerance to ultraviolet light. It is sometimes used in combination with a cancer therapy known to weaken the skin’s tolerance to light, to prevent this side effect.
A condition in which sunlight triggers burning and itching, as well as rashes, on the skin can also be treated with afamelanotide. The hormone therapy is an alternative to sunscreens and steroids which have often been used to treat this problem. Afamelanotide can also help alleviate a rare condition in which the immune system reacts to ultraviolet light. Rashes as well as nausea, headaches, and breathing problems often accompany this disorder. A research study, which ended in 2011, showed positive results in people treated with the hormone replacement.
Afamelanotide can be administered by injecting an implant under the skin, which is typically about as small as a grain of rice. The implant typically dissolves over time, and the molecules in the drug can last for several minutes. Molecules of the naturally occurring hormone, in contrast, usually become ineffective within seconds after being activated. Patients with certain skin problems can be treated with afamelanotide every couple of months.
Products similar to afamelanotide are often sold as melanotan, and are sometimes found online as well as in beauty salons and gyms. The alternate skin pigment hormone, however, is generally a prescription drug seen in markets throughout the United States, Europe, and Australia. It has been recognized as a medicine by various regional agencies, following clinical trials that tested the hormone’s effectiveness on different skin disorders.