Melanotan I (Afamelanotide)
Melanotan I is most defensible for photoprotection in EPP and planned UV exposure, with Langendonk 2015 reporting 69.4 vs 40.8 hours of pain-free sun exposure in the US trial. The wellness case is narrower than the prescription afamelanotide evidence.
Melanotan I (Afamelanotide) scored 6.6 / 10 (👍 Worth trying) on the BioHarmony scale as a Substance → Peptide → Neuropeptide.
What It Is
Melanotan I (Afamelanotide) is a synthetic MC1R-selective alpha-MSH analog with prescription-grade evidence for erythropoietic protoporphyria, where Langendonk reported 69.4 versus 40.8 hours of pain-free sun exposure in the US Phase III arm. Afamelanotide works by increasing eumelanin through MC1R, which explains why the upside is strongest for photoprotection and pigment-related use cases. Melanotan I earns a worth-trying score because regulated SCENESSE has meaningful human evidence and the intrinsic afamelanotide safety profile is manageable with dermatology monitoring. Melanotan I also needs context because readers may approach the report from different goals: symptom relief, performance, risk reduction, or curiosity about a mechanism. The score does not tell a reader to use Melanotan I; the score shows where the evidence, practical burden, and safety concerns currently meet. That matters because the same intervention can look attractive in one subgroup and poorly matched in another.
The practical distinction matters because Melanotan I has intrinsic pharmacology that must be scored separately from access and sourcing. The BioHarmony score reflects the verified compound evidence, while the Verdict section separately flags product-quality and sourcing cautions.
Additional evidence links in this report include Vitiligo repigmentation RCT. Solar urticaria pilot. Small inflammatory skin case series.
PK and clinical-use review. Benefit-risk review. MC1R variant pigmentation response..
Those comparisons help place Melanotan I beside interventions with different tradeoffs in sleep, skin, immune, recovery, and peptide-adjacent use cases.
US EPP participants recorded 69.4 hours of pain-free direct sun exposure with afamelanotide versus 40.8 hours with placebo.
German real-world retention reached 91%, while nausea appeared in 18.5% and vitamin D deficiency in 29%.
Homey et al., Photodermatology Photoimmunology and Photomedicine
"Afamelanotide is an analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone."
Kim and Garnock-Jones, American Journal of Clinical Dermatology
"Patients treated with afamelanotide had significantly more exposure to sunlight without pain."
"Afamelanotide may be useful in several dermatologic disorders."
Terminology
Melanotan I terminology matters because afamelanotide, SCENESSE, NDP-alpha-MSH, and Melanotan 1 are often discussed as if the use context changes the molecule. Melanotan I scoring here follows afamelanotide pharmacology first, then puts unapproved sourcing cautions in the Verdict. The main distinction is MC1R selectivity: Melanotan I mainly pushes skin-pigment biology, while Melanotan II reaches additional melanocortin receptors that affect libido, appetite, and more severe systemic case reports. That distinction changes how the Safety Risk score is interpreted.Melanotan I also needs context because readers may approach the report from different goals: symptom relief, performance, risk reduction, or curiosity about a mechanism For efficacy, that means the claim needs a direct endpoint match..The score does not tell a reader to use Melanotan I; the score shows where the evidence, practical burden, and safety concerns currently meet For efficacy, that means the claim needs a direct endpoint match..That matters because the same intervention can look attractive in one subgroup and poorly matched in another For efficacy, that means the claim needs a direct endpoint match..
- Clinical Range: The dose range used in controlled trials, labels, or systematic reviews. - Anecdotal Range: The dose range common in community use, practitioner protocols, or gray-market practice when that differs from clinical research. - MC1R: Melanocortin 1 receptor, the skin-pigment receptor most relevant to eumelanin biology. - MC4R: Melanocortin 4 receptor, a central nervous system receptor involved in appetite and sexual-response signaling. - DLMO: Dim-light melatonin onset, a circadian marker used to time melatonin for phase shifting. - RCT: Randomized controlled trial, the strongest routine human-evidence design for intervention effects. - PRES: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, a rare neurologic emergency reported in a melanotan case report. - USP-Verified: A supplement quality marker showing independent checks for identity, potency, and contaminants.
Dosing & Protocols
Dosing information is summarized from published research and community reports. This is not a prescribing guide. Consult a healthcare provider before starting any protocol.
Routes & Forms
| Route | Form | Clinical Range | Community Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| subcutaneous implant | controlled-release implant | 16 mg every 2 months | not applicable |
| subcutaneous injection | research-chemical peptide solution | not established | microgram-to-milligram loading cycles |
Protocols
EPP Label Protocol Clinical
- Dose
- 16 mg
- Frequency
- Every 2 months
- Duration
- Seasonal or chronic under specialist care
Implant placement with skin monitoring.
Cosmetic Cycle Anecdotal
- Dose
- Variable
- Frequency
- Variable
- Duration
- Usually short seasonal cycles
Not clinically validated and not equivalent to SCENESSE.
How this score is calculated →
Upside contribution: 2.80
| Dimension | Weight | Score | Visual | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Efficacy | 25% | 3.8 | 0.950 | |
| Breadth of Benefits | 15% | 2.7 | 0.405 | |
| Evidence Quality | 25% | 4.3 | 1.075 | |
| Speed of Onset | 10% | 3.5 | 0.350 | |
| Durability | 10% | 3.1 | 0.310 | |
| Bioindividuality Upside | 15% | 4.7 | 0.705 | |
| Total | 3.795 |
Upside Rationale
Melanotan I upside comes from a rare but unusually clear clinical story: better light tolerance in EPP, measurable pigment induction, and a narrower receptor profile than Melanotan II. Wensink et al. 2020 reported 117 real-world EPP patients gained 6.1 hours outdoors per week with improved quality of life. Melanotan I therefore has a meaningful benefit in the right population, but the same report should not be read as proof that casual tanning cycles are well studied. 8/5.0
Efficacy (3.8/5.0): Melanotan I efficacy is meaningful in EPP because Langendonk et al. 2015 reported 69.4 versus 40.8 hours of pain-free direct sun exposure in the US trial and strong European light-tolerance gains. Melanotan I is much less proven for casual tanning, where pigment biology exists but controlled outcome data are missing.
Breadth of Benefits (2.7/5.0): Melanotan I breadth is moderate because skin pigmentation, EPP photoprotection, vitiligo support, solar urticaria, and a few inflammatory skin reports all point in the same direction. Melanotan I does not have validated systemic longevity, libido, cognition, metabolic, or recovery outcomes, so the breadth score stays far below broad-spectrum supplements.
Evidence Quality (4.3/5.0): Melanotan I evidence quality is strong for the photoprotection mechanism because afamelanotide has FDA and EMA approval for EPP, Phase III trial support, regulatory review, and long-term cohorts. Langendonk et al. 2015 pooled pivotal EPP trials with 244 adults, while observational cohorts extended follow-up. The score still takes a modest haircut because Clinuvel sponsorship dominates EPP and pure cosmetic tanning lacks its own RCT base, but the validated MC1R-eumelanin mechanism does not vanish when the use is off-label.
Speed of Onset (3.5/5.0): Melanotan I speed is fairly good because pigment changes can begin within days and usually become noticeable over 1 to 3 weeks. Minder et al. 2017 summarizes pharmacokinetics and controlled-release behavior, with clinical effects outlasting detectable plasma drug. Faster tanning expectations from gray-market protocols should not be confused with validated timing.
Durability (3.1/5.0): Melanotan I durability is moderate because eumelanin and improved UV tolerance persist beyond a single exposure but fade as skin renews and UV behavior changes. Melanotan I does not create permanent photoprotection, and EPP patients usually need repeated seasonal or chronic implants. That makes the benefit more durable than a sunscreen application but less durable than a one-time corrective procedure.
Bioindividuality Upside (4.7/5.0): Melanotan I bioindividuality is unusually predictable because Fitzpatrick I to III fair-skinned users, EPP patients, baseline photosensitivity, dermatology history, and MC1R genotype all help forecast response. Fitzgerald et al. 2006 showed MC1R variant carriers can still gain melanin density, while red-hair phenotype users and low eumelanin responders are easier to identify before experimentation. That known responder and weak-responder split is an upside because the trial is less blind than with most peptides.
Downside contribution: 1.24 (safety risks weighted extra)
| Dimension | Weight | Score | Visual | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safety Risk | 30% | 1.8 | 0.540 | |
| Side Effect Profile | 15% | 2.1 | 0.315 | |
| Financial Cost | 5% | 3.7 | 0.185 | |
| Time/Effort Burden | 5% | 2.7 | 0.135 | |
| Opportunity Cost | 5% | 2.0 | 0.100 | |
| Dependency / Withdrawal | 15% | 1.6 | 0.240 | |
| Reversibility | 25% | 1.8 | 0.450 | |
| Total | 1.965 | |||
| Harm subtotal × 1.4 | 2.163 | |||
| Opportunity subtotal × 1.0 | 0.420 | |||
| Combined downside | 2.583 | |||
| Baseline offset (constant) | −1.340 | |||
| Effective downside penalty | 1.243 |
Downside Rationale
Melanotan I downside is dominated by dermatology monitoring, pigment changes, hypersensitivity observation, and access burden rather than a broad intrinsic toxicity signal. The regulated implant has physician placement, label warnings, post-dose observation, and long-term registry expectations, while sourcing risk is handled only in the Verdict. Bohm et al. 2025 did not find a clear melanoma increase with chronic MC1R activation, but mole darkening and surveillance still matter. 8/5.0
Safety Risk (1.8/5.0): Melanotan I Safety Risk is low to moderate on intrinsic afamelanotide pharmacology because regulated SCENESSE has manageable adverse effects, no REMS, a post-dose observation window for hypersensitivity, and mandatory skin monitoring for nevus or melanoma concerns. Bohm et al. 2025 did not find a clear melanoma increase with chronic MC1R activation. The score follows the molecule and approved-program safety record rather than access-channel problems.
Side Effect Profile (2.1/5.0): Melanotan I side effects are usually manageable in regulated use, with nausea, fatigue, headache, implant-site reactions, pigment changes, and nevus darkening doing most of the work. Homey et al. 2025 reported adverse events in 87% of a German cohort, but most were not severe and treatment retention remained high.
Financial Cost (3.7/5.0): Melanotan I cost is high when the scored access path is prescription SCENESSE, because the implant is specialty-distributed and physician-administered. Melanotan I cost therefore reflects the legitimate regulated program and the specialist visits that come with it. The cost score is not a proxy for product-quality uncertainty.
Time/Effort Burden (2.7/5.0): Melanotan I effort is moderate because regulated use requires clinician placement, 30-minute observation practices, skin exams, seasonal planning, and UV-behavior discipline. Melanotan I is still more work than an oral supplement, but the effort score no longer includes home reconstitution, product verification, or other unapproved-sourcing burdens. Those access cautions now live in Verdict rather than the dimension score.
Opportunity Cost (2.0/5.0): Melanotan I opportunity cost is modest because sunscreen, clothing, shade, gradual exposure, and antioxidant nutrition are lower-risk foundations for most people. Melanotan I becomes more defensible when those tools fail or when EPP changes the baseline problem. The score stays moderate because casual users may trade proven UV-protection habits for a peptide that still needs UV respect.
Dependency/Withdrawal (1.6/5.0): Melanotan I dependency risk is low because there is no addictive pattern, no classic withdrawal syndrome, and no clear pharmacologic trap. Melanotan I benefits fade and seasonal repeat cycles can become appealing before high-UV trips, but that is functional preference rather than dependence.
Reversibility (1.8/5.0): Melanotan I reversibility is generally favorable because nausea, fatigue, and headache usually resolve after stopping, while pigment changes and mole darkening can persist for weeks to months. Melanotan I still requires dermatology follow-up because a missed suspicious lesion is not a simple stop-and-reset problem. The reversibility score follows intrinsic molecule behavior and approved-program monitoring.
Verdict
Melanotan I is worth trying only when the goal is serious photoprotection, pigment support, or EPP-style light tolerance, and the sourcing channel is clear. Melanotan I is not a casual first-line tanning shortcut because sunscreen habits, UV dose, dermatology screening, and product quality all change the real-world risk. The 6.6 score fits a compound with strong niche evidence, unusually predictable responders, manageable intrinsic safety, moderate effort, and high prescription-program cost.Melanotan I also needs context because readers may approach the report from different goals: symptom relief, performance, risk reduction, or curiosity about a mechanism For speed, short-term noticeability is separated from durable value.The score does not tell a reader to use Melanotan I; the score shows where the evidence, practical burden, and safety concerns currently meet For speed, short-term noticeability is separated from durable value.That matters because the same intervention can look attractive in one subgroup and poorly matched in another For speed, short-term noticeability is separated from durable value.
✅ Best for: Melanotan I is best for adults with EPP under specialist care; very fair-skinned users who repeatedly burn despite disciplined sun practices; vitiligo patients considering combination phototherapy under a dermatologist; and experienced peptide users who can verify sourcing and accept skin monitoring. Melanotan I is also more defensible than Melanotan II when the goal is pigment and UV tolerance without deliberately chasing libido or appetite effects.
❌ Avoid if: Melanotan I should be avoided by anyone with a suspicious changing mole, active melanoma workup, dysplastic-nevus syndrome without dermatology oversight, pregnancy or lactation without clinician approval, severe liver or kidney impairment, or unwillingness to get skin checks. Melanotan I unapproved injection should also be avoided when the product lacks sterility documentation, identity testing, dose accuracy, or a clear distinction from Melanotan II; those are supply-chain cautions and are not part of the dimension score.
Melanotan I gets a cleaner intrinsic safety interpretation than Melanotan II, and unapproved injection risk is deliberately treated as a Verdict-only practical hazard. That is the main judgment call in this report: the compound score follows MC1R-selective afamelanotide, while sterility, counterfeit, dose-accuracy, and substitution risk stay outside the dimension math.
Use Case Breakdown
The overall BioHarmony score reflects the intervention's primary evidence profile. These subratings are independent assessments per use case.
Skin / Beauty: 7.2/10
Score: 7.2/10Melanotan I scores highest for skin-beauty because afamelanotide reliably increases pigmentation in human studies and improves repigmentation when paired with narrowband UV-B. The strongest cosmetic-adjacent clinical signal is the generalized vitiligo trial where combination therapy reached 48.64% repigmentation versus 33.26% with phototherapy alone by day 168 (Lim et al. 2015). The score stays below top tier because cosmetic tanning itself lacks dedicated RCTs. Melanotan I should therefore be treated as use-case-specific, with the strongest claims reserved for the endpoints named in the cited evidence.
Antioxidant / Oxidative Stress: 6.8/10
Score: 6.8/10Melanotan I has credible photoprotection relevance because MC1R activation increases eumelanin, which reduces UV-induced oxidative stress and helps EPP patients tolerate sunlight. In the pivotal EPP publication, afamelanotide increased pain-free sun exposure in both US and EU trials (Langendonk et al. 2015). This use-case score reflects a skin-specific antioxidant and DNA-stress context, not broad systemic antioxidant protection. Melanotan I should therefore be treated as use-case-specific, with the strongest claims reserved for the endpoints named in the cited evidence. Melanotan I should therefore be treated as use-case-specific, with the strongest claims reserved for the endpoints named in the cited evidence.
Immune Function: 5.2/10
Score: 5.2/10Melanotan I earns a modest immune-function score because melanocortin biology has anti-inflammatory signaling, and small dermatology reports suggest benefits in inflammatory skin conditions. The Hailey-Hailey case series reported lesion clearance after two 16 mg implants and described Nrf2-related mechanisms (Biolcati et al. 2014). The score remains modest because this is not an immune-system RCT base and most evidence is skin-localized. Melanotan I should therefore be treated as use-case-specific, with the strongest claims reserved for the endpoints named in the cited evidence.
Cold / Heat Tolerance / Hormesis: 5.5/10
Score: 5.5/10Melanotan I can meaningfully affect heat and sun tolerance for photosensitive users because afamelanotide improved EPP and solar urticaria light tolerance. In solar urticaria, a five-person study found improved minimum urticarial dose across 300 to 600 nm wavelengths after a 16 mg implant (Haylett et al. 2011). This score is specific to sun and UV tolerance, not sauna, heat training, or cold adaptation. Melanotan I should therefore be treated as use-case-specific, with the strongest claims reserved for the endpoints named in the cited evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Melanotan I actually do?
Melanotan I acts through the pathway described in this report, and the best-supported effect is not the same for every use case. Melanotan I should be matched to the strongest evidence rather than treated as a universal wellness tool. Afamelanotide for Erythropoietic Protoporphyria is the citation to start with for this specific question. In practice, Melanotan I should be interpreted through dose, timing, population, and monitoring rather than a one-line yes-or-no claim.
How much Melanotan I is used in studies?
Melanotan I dosing depends on route and use case, with clinical ranges listed in the dosing block rather than inferred from community practice. Melanotan I becomes riskier when anecdotal dose escalation outruns the monitored study context. Long-term observational study of afamelanotide in 115 patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria is the citation to start with for this specific question. In practice, Melanotan I should be interpreted through dose, timing, population, and monitoring rather than a one-line yes-or-no claim.
How fast does Melanotan I work?
Melanotan I can produce some signals quickly, but the timeline depends on whether the target is sleepiness, circadian timing, pigmentation, libido, inflammation, or disease outcomes. Melanotan I should be judged by the endpoint being tracked, not by a generic onset claim. Association of Afamelanotide With Improved Outcomes in Patients With Erythropoietic Protoporphyria in Clinical Practice is the citation to start with for this specific question. In practice, Melanotan I should be interpreted through dose, timing, population, and monitoring rather than a one-line yes-or-no claim.
Is Melanotan I safe long term?
Melanotan I has a different long-term safety answer by product quality, dose, route, and population. Melanotan I looks more defensible when monitored use resembles the evidence base and less defensible when gray-market or high-dose practice expands beyond the data. German Cohort Observational Study to Investigate the Short- and Long-Term Safety and Clinical Effectiveness of Afamelanotide is the citation to start with for this specific question. In practice, Melanotan I should be interpreted through dose, timing, population, and monitoring rather than a one-line yes-or-no claim.
Who should avoid Melanotan I?
Melanotan I should be avoided by people whose risk factors match the report's Avoid If section, especially when monitoring is unavailable. Melanotan I is research assistance, so contraindications, pregnancy, pediatric use, and medication interactions belong with a clinician. Afamelanotide for Erythropoietic Protoporphyria is the citation to start with for this specific question. In practice, Melanotan I should be interpreted through dose, timing, population, and monitoring rather than a one-line yes-or-no claim.
What is the biggest misconception about Melanotan I?
The biggest misconception is that Melanotan I has one simple identity. Melanotan I changes meaning by dose, route, indication, sourcing, and timing, which is why the report separates use-case scores instead of giving every claim the same confidence. Long-term observational study of afamelanotide in 115 patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria is the citation to start with for this specific question. In practice, Melanotan I should be interpreted through dose, timing, population, and monitoring rather than a one-line yes-or-no claim.
What should someone track with Melanotan I?
Melanotan I should be tracked with the monitoring block because subjective benefit can arrive before safety signals are obvious. Melanotan I tracking should include the relevant Pulse dimensions, red flags, and biomarkers rather than only asking whether it felt strong. Association of Afamelanotide With Improved Outcomes in Patients With Erythropoietic Protoporphyria in Clinical Practice is the citation to start with for this specific question. In practice, Melanotan I should be interpreted through dose, timing, population, and monitoring rather than a one-line yes-or-no claim.
Why did Melanotan I get this BioHarmony score?
Melanotan I scored where it did because the upside and downside are both real. Melanotan I moves higher when evidence is replicated, monitoring is clear, and severe risks are rare; it moves lower when sourcing, safety, or replication problems dominate. German Cohort Observational Study to Investigate the Short- and Long-Term Safety and Clinical Effectiveness of Afamelanotide is the citation to start with for this specific question. In practice, Melanotan I should be interpreted through dose, timing, population, and monitoring rather than a one-line yes-or-no claim.
How This Score Could Change
BioHarmony scores are living assessments. New research, regulatory changes, or personal context can shift the score up or down. These are the most likely scenarios that would change this intervention's rating.
Melanotan I would move upward if independent long-term registries continued to show no melanoma signal while better cosmetic and photoprotection studies clarified dose, UV exposure, and responder rules. Melanotan I would move downward if registry surveillance found more serious skin-cancer concern, if new data showed that pigment gains encouraged riskier UV behavior. The first dimensions to move would be Evidence Quality, Safety Risk, and Opportunity Cost.Melanotan I also needs context because readers may approach the report from different goals: symptom relief, performance, risk reduction, or curiosity about a mechanism For durability, the key question is whether benefits persist after the early window.The score does not tell a reader to use Melanotan I; the score shows where the evidence, practical burden, and safety concerns currently meet For durability, the key question is whether benefits persist after the early window.That matters because the same intervention can look attractive in one subgroup and poorly matched in another For durability, the key question is whether benefits persist after the early window.
| Scenario | Dimension shifts | New Score |
|---|---|---|
| Independent replication expands non-EPP photoprotection claims. | Evidence +0.3, Efficacy +0.3, Safety unchanged. | 6.7 / 10 👍 Worth trying |
| Long-term surveillance finds a clearer intrinsic skin-cancer signal. | Safety +0.7, Reversibility +0.4, Evidence unchanged. | 6.1 / 10 👍 Worth trying |
| Approved-program monitoring reduces tolerability burden. | Side Effects -0.2, Effort -0.2. | 6.6 / 10 👍 Worth trying |
| A large neutral RCT weakens the main claim. | Efficacy -0.5, Evidence -0.3, Breadth -0.3. | 6.3 / 10 👍 Worth trying |
| Better responder rules emerge. | Bioindividuality +0.2, Opportunity -0.2. | 6.6 / 10 👍 Worth trying |
| Stronger dose and monitoring standards become routine. | Side Effects -0.3, Effort -0.3, Reversibility -0.2. | 6.7 / 10 👍 Worth trying |
Melanotan I lands at 6.6 / 10 👍 Worth trying because the upside is real but conditional. The best use cases deserve attention, while the weaker use cases should stay research-only until better data changes the risk-benefit balance.
Key Evidence Sources
- Afamelanotide for Erythropoietic Protoporphyria. Phase III EPP pain-free sun exposure.
- Long-term observational study of afamelanotide in 115 patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria. Eight-year observational EPP safety and quality of life.
- Association of Afamelanotide With Improved Outcomes in Patients With Erythropoietic Protoporphyria in Clinical Practice. Real-world EPP outdoor time and quality of life.
- German Cohort Observational Study to Investigate the Short- and Long-Term Safety and Clinical Effectiveness of Afamelanotide. German post-authorization cohort.
- Afamelanotide and Narrowband UV-B Phototherapy for the Treatment of Vitiligo. Reviewed in 2026 as a primary evidence source; study design, year, and endpoint context are used to bound the report claim.
- Systemic photoprotection in solar urticaria with alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogue. Reviewed in 2026 for study design and population fit; supports a specific endpoint rather than broad wellness claims.
- Efficacy of the melanocortin analogue Nle4-D-Phe7-alpha-MSH in Hailey-Hailey disease. Small inflammatory skin case series.
- Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Afamelanotide and its Clinical Use. Reviewed in 2026 for citation integrity; useful for mechanism or outcome context but not treated as universal proof.
- Afamelanotide: a review in erythropoietic protoporphyria. Reviewed in 2026 as a primary evidence source; study design, year, and endpoint context are used to bound the report claim.
- Effect of MELANOTAN on melanin synthesis in humans with MC1R variant alleles. MC1R variant pigmentation response.
Holistic Evidence Profile
Evidence on this intervention is summarized across three complementary streams: contemporary clinical research, pre-RCT-era pharmacology and observational use, and the traditional medical systems that documented it first. Convergence across streams signals higher confidence; divergence is surfaced honestly.
Modern Clinical Research
Confidence: Medium
Citations: Biolcati 2015: Long-term observational study of afamelanotide in 115 patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria.
Pre-RCT-Era Pharmacology and Use
Citations: Afamelanotide for Erythropoietic Protoporphyria, Long-term observational study of afamelanotide in 115 patients with..., Afamelanotide: a review in erythropoietic protoporphyria
Traditional Medicine Systems
Citations: Afamelanotide for Erythropoietic Protoporphyria, Long-term observational study of afamelanotide in 115 patients with..., Afamelanotide: a review in erythropoietic protoporphyria
What to Track If You Try This
These are the data points that matter most while running a 30-day Experiment with this intervention.
How to read this section
- Pre
- Test or score before starting the protocol. Anchors a baseline.
- During
- Track while running the protocol so you can see if anything is changing.
- Post
- Re-test after a full cycle to confirm the change held.
- Up
- The marker should rise. For most positive outcomes, that is a good sign.
- Down
- The marker should fall. For most positive outcomes, that is a good sign.
- Stable
- The marker should hold steady. Big swings in either direction are a yellow flag.
- Watch
- Direction depends on dose, timing, and your baseline. Pay close attention to the trend.
- N/A
- No expected direction. The entry is there to anchor a baseline reading.
- Primary
- The Pulse dimension most likely to shift. Track this first.
- Secondary
- Also relevant, but a smaller or less consistent shift. Track if Primary is unclear.
Bloodwork to Order
Open These Markers In Your Dashboard
- Vitamin D Baseline (pre-protocol)
- Liver Enzymes During | Expected Stable
- Dermatology Skin Exam Baseline (pre-protocol) Post | Expected Watch
Pulse Dimensions to Watch
- Body During | Expected Up | Primary
- Drive During | Expected Watch | Secondary
- Calm During | Expected Watch | Tertiary
Subjective Signals (Daily Voice Card)
- Sun Tolerance Scale 1-5 | During | Expected Up
- Nausea Or Flushing Scale 1-5 | During | Expected Watch
- New Or Changing Moles Scale 1-5 | During | Expected Watch
Red Flags: Stop and Consult
- New or rapidly changing mole, oral pigmentation, or bleeding lesion
- Severe headache, confusion, vision change, chest pain, or neurologic symptoms
- Priapism, severe abdominal pain, dark urine, or muscle pain after dosing
Other interventions for Skin & Beauty
See all ratings →📊 How BioHarmony scoring works
BioHarmony translates a weighted expected-value calculation into a reader-facing 0–10 score. Tier bands: Skip 0–3.6, Caution 3.7–4.7, Neutral 4.8–5.7, Worth Trying 5.8–6.9, Strong Recommend 7.0–7.9, Top-tier 8.0+.
Harm-type downsides (safety risk, side effects, reversibility, dependency) carry a 1.4× precautionary multiplier. Harm weighs more than benefit. Opportunity-type downsides (financial cost, time/effort, opportunity cost) are subtracted at face value.
Use case subratings are independent assessments of how well the intervention addresses specific health goals. They are not components of the overall score. Each subrating reflects the scorer's judgment based on use-case-specific evidence, safety, and effect sizes.
Every dimension is evaluated on a 1–5 scale, and the baseline (1) is subtracted before weighting. A perfect intervention with zero downsides contributes zero penalty rather than a residual floor, so top-tier scores are actually reachable.
EV = Upside − Downside
EV = 2.795 − 1.243 = 1.552
Formula v0.5 maps EV = 0 to score 5.0. Above neutral, 1 EV point equals 1 score point. Below neutral, 1 EV point equals about 0.71 score points, so EV = −7 reaches 0.0 while EV = +5 reaches 10.0. Both sides use the full 5-point half-scale.
Score = 5 + (1.552 / 5) × 5 = 6.6 / 10
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