Two-phase protocol: a 1–3 week loading ramp to saturate melanocytes while keeping nausea manageable, then weekly maintenance once the target shade is reached. For why MT-II works the way it does and where MC4R receptor desensitisation fits, see Melanocortin Map.
Pre-protocol checklist
- Dermatology baseline. Photographic mole map at year zero is non-optional. MT-II darkens existing nevi and may precipitate new ones; a baseline is what makes the annual follow-up readable.
- BAC water on hand. Reconstitution math in the Reconstitution Cheat Sheet; a 10 mg vial in 2 mL gives 50 mcg/u for clean unit math at 100/250/500 mcg doses.
- Antihistamine. Cetirizine 10 mg or loratadine 10 mg 1 h before injection cuts the autonomic flush and a chunk of the nausea.
- UV plan. 20–30 min UV exposure 2–3x/week is required for the protocol to produce a tan. MT-II raises melanin capacity; UV oxidises it.
Loading phase
| Day | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | 100 mcg / day SC | Test response. Inject pre-bed to sleep through the nausea peak. |
| 4–6 | 250 mcg / day SC | Antihistamine 1 h before. UV starting from week 1 if tolerated. |
| 7+ | 500 mcg / day SC | Continue daily until target shade is reached, typically 1–3 weeks. |
Operators who tolerate poorly hold each step for 4–6 days instead of 3. Skipping a step (e.g. 100 → 500 mcg) reliably produces severe nausea, vomiting, and flushing strong enough that some users stop the protocol entirely.
Maintenance phase
| Pattern | Dose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 500 mcg – 1 mg once per week | Once saturation is reached, pigment persists months. Weekly dosing keeps the signal alive without re-triggering load-phase nausea. |
| Bi-weekly | 500 mcg every 2 weeks | For users who reach saturation easily; cuts cost and dose load further. Watch the shade and bump back to weekly if it fades. |
UV pairing rules
- Without UV the protocol fails. MT-II without sun or a tanning bed produces grey-tinged or no visible tan. The melanin is there; UV is the activator.
- Start UV from week 1. Building tolerance to dose and UV in parallel is faster than loading first and adding UV later.
- 20–30 minute sessions, 2–3x/week. Standard moderate-exposure tanning cadence. Don’t double up - MT-II enhances melanin response, not UV protection.
- SPF still applies. Sun damage isn’t turned off by enhanced pigmentation. SPF 30+ on face and any non-target areas.
Side-effect management
- Nausea / flush: antihistamine 1 h before; inject pre-bed; eat something small with carbs 30 min before injection.
- Spontaneous erections: common at first injections, fades with continued use. Time injection so the next 4–6 hours are private.
- Dark moles: expected. New small moles are common. Discuss anything unusual with the dermatologist on the annual follow-up.
- Decreased appetite: mild, often welcome on a cut. Not the goal of the protocol but a frequent side-effect.
What stops people
- Skipping the loading ramp. 500 mcg cold first dose produces vomiting and treatment-discontinuing nausea. The ramp is short; respect it.
- Skipping UV. The most common reason MT-II “doesn’t work” in user reports. Without UV, the pigment doesn’t express on the skin in a useful way.
- Stacking with PDE5 inhibitors at high doses. Synergistic erection effect; priapism risk if both are dosed close together at high doses. See Stacking Safety Quick Reference.
- Skipping the dermatology baseline. A year of MT-II use without a pre-protocol mole map makes the annual follow-up much harder to read. Five minutes once is worth it.
Cross-references
- Melanocortin Map - the deep article on MC1R / MC3R / MC4R / MC5R and which peptides hit which.
- Skin and Hair application - broader skin protocols and the MT-II / GHK-Cu adjacency framing.
- Stacking Safety Quick Reference - PDE5 and MAOI interactions.
- Reconstitution Cheat Sheet - vial math.
- Cold-Chain Quick Reference - light-sensitivity note for melanocortin storage.