dana farber genital melanotic macules Ursula A. Matulonis, MD - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Home | Carrasco Lab at

10.1073/pnas.97.10.5440 Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A

Gopal Grandhige, MD, FACS, Board-Certified Surgeon Last Reviewed: May 8, 2026 Melanotan is a synthetic peptide that stimulates melanin production to create a tan with reduced sun exposure, but its safety and effectiveness for people with very fair skin is a complicated question

Other oxidative stress triggers include a poor diet, low physical activity, prolonged stress, and intrinsic factors, such as mitochondrial dysfunction leading to reduced adenosine 5-triphosphate (ATP) production, inflammation, and hypoxia (106, 117)

This is possibly mediated by its central melanocortin signaling ability

It also helps to elevate the mood and other functions of the brain

This makes biological sense