Side by side
Glutathione vs Melanotan II
Both are discussed for skin & hair. What this site records about each, side by side. Every figure is on the compound's own page with the source it came from.
| Glutathione | Melanotan II | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The body's main antioxidant, and a poor drug. The FDA has warned specifically against the injectable skin-lightening use. That is what most of it is sold for. | A melanocortin agonist that darkens skin by stimulating melanin production. Carries the most serious dermatological concern of anything on this site. |
| EvidenceHow much human evidence exists, not how well it works. | Early human trials | Preclinical |
| Regulatory statusReviewed 2026-08-18 | Not approved as a medicine for skin lightening or antioxidant use in the United States or the European Union. The FDA has issued a specific warning about injectable skin-lightening products containing glutathione — citing unapproved status — unknown safety and contamination risk. Oral glutathione is sold as a dietary supplement. | Not approved for human use in any jurisdiction. Multiple national medicines regulators have issued public safety warnings specifically about melanotan products, citing unregulated manufacture and dermatological risk. Sold only as a research chemical. |
| Routes | Intravenous, Intramuscular, Oral | Subcutaneous |
| Half-life | Not recorded | 1 hours |
| Cheapest per mgVials only, read from vendors' own listings and dated on the price index. | $0.02/mg | $1.80/mg |
| Median per mg | $0.05/mg | $3.50/mg |
| Vendors with a price | 41 | 46 |
| Storage once mixed | Use promptly. The reduced form oxidises in solution, and the oxidised form is not what is wanted. | Refrigerated at 2–8 °C. Do not freeze once mixed. |
Compare two other compounds · The full price index
This page is educational. It describes what published research reports, not what you should do. Peptides discussed here are largely not approved for human use, and nothing on BioAlmanac is medical advice. Nothing here ranks these two against each other. A table can show that one has more human evidence behind it or costs less per milligram; neither of those is a recommendation, and the right comparison for any person is one their doctor makes with them.