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A cosmetic ingredient, not regulated or approved as a drug. This page is educational information only, not medical advice.
IndexedBuilt automatically from public databases on 2026-09-30. Not yet hand-reviewed by PLOBT.How this works →

Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4

Cosmetic ingredient

Cosmetic signal peptide

Also known as: Matrixyl, Pal-KTTKS, Palmitoyl pentapeptide-3, Oristar popp, Lipopentapeptide 3, PAL-Lys-Thr-Thr-Lys-Ser

Evidence score
36/ 100
Emerging evidence

Early evidence, mostly unproven in humans

  • Regulatory standing. Cosmetic ingredient, not regulated as a drug
  • Limited human data. Some human data exists, not conclusive
  • No registered human trials. Nothing registered on ClinicalTrials.gov
  • 1 cited source. Includes primary / regulatory sources

Computed with the same four public criteria as every profile. The human-evidence grade on an indexed profile is set automatically and may change when it is hand-reviewed. It is not a safety score, not a purity rating, and not medical advice, and not a claim that this compound treats, cures, or prevents any condition.

What it is

Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, sold as Matrixyl and also called Pal-KTTKS, is a short five amino acid peptide attached to a fatty acid (palmitic acid) to help it penetrate skin. It is used in topical cosmetic products and is thought to act as a signaling fragment that may encourage skin cells to produce collagen and other matrix proteins.

What the evidence shows

Automatic summaryLimited human data

It is regulated as a cosmetic ingredient, not an FDA-approved drug, and there are no registered human clinical trials. The published literature is small, consisting mainly of lab studies and a few small, often industry-linked cosmetic studies on wrinkle appearance, so any effect in humans remains weakly supported.

Key facts

Molecular formula
C39H75N7O10
Molecular weight
802.1 g/mol

Registered human trials

Live from ClinicalTrials.gov, refreshed daily.

0registered studies
Nonemost advanced phase
0completed (sample)
0recruiting (sample)

Published literature

Live from Europe PMC. This is how much has been published, not how much is proven in humans.

6papers referencing Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4

Bioactive Glycyrrhizic Acid Ionic Liquid Self-Assembled Nanomicelles for Enhanced Transdermal Delivery of Anti-Photoaging Signal Peptides.

Adv Sci (Weinh)2025

Dually functionalized dendrimer for stimuli-responsive release of active ingredients into the skin.

Acta Biomater2025

Synergistic Effects of Injectable Platelet-Rich Fibrin and Bioactive Peptides on Dermal Fibroblast Viability and Extracellular Matrix Gene Expression: An In Vitro Study.

Molecules2025

Double-blind, Randomized Trial on the Effectiveness of Acetylhexapeptide-3 Cream and Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 Cream for Crow's Feet.

J Clin Aesthet Dermatol2023

Sources

Risks, side effects and study doses are only published on hand-reviewed profiles. Want this one reviewed, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.