Peptides / Skin and hair

Synthetic analog · 5 amino acids · 802.1 Da

Matrixyl (palmitoyl pentapeptide-4)

Matrixyl (palmitoyl pentapeptide-4) is a peptide used in skin care products, and no approval as a drug was found. Small studies in people tested it on skin, and lab and animal studies looked at wound healing. PepBank shows 6 results on Matrixyl from 2 studies in people, and 20 from animal and lab studies. The strongest evidence is a randomized trial in people. Data as of 2026-10-30.

Also known as Matrixyl, Pal-KTTKS, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-3, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl-KTTKS

5 amino acids, from first to lastKTTKS

Evidence level: Mostly animal studies20 of 26 results come from studies in animals and lab cells. 2 studies in people.

Results in people

23% of 26 results

Results in animals

38% of 26 results

Results in lab cells

38% of 26 results

From computer models

0% of 26 results

Overview

Matrixyl (palmitoyl pentapeptide-4) at a glance

What it is	Synthetic analog, 5 amino acids
Approval	Regulatory status not recorded
In sport	Status unknown
Studies	23 studies with results. 11 of them gave Matrixyl, with 26 results. 6 in people10 in animals10 in lab cells
Best study in people	Randomized controlled trial with 93 people (2005)
Clinical trials	None registered
Community use	Skin appearance with original Matrixyl or other Matrixyl-branded products

The science

What is Matrixyl?

Original Matrixyl is the palmitoylated KTTKS peptide used in cosmetics.

Amino acids in one chain

Matrixyl (palmitoyl pentapeptide-4) structure and chemistry

The key facts about the molecule. Long codes are in the closed section below.

Sequence, 5 amino acidsFrom the first amino acid to the last

+K1TT+KS5

Darker means more water-repelling+ and − show charge in the bodyOutlined: changed amino acid

Structure

Matrixyl (palmitoyl pentapeptide-4) is a synthetic analog of 5 amino acids, with no ring, 1 changed amino acid.

Formula

C₃₉H₇₅N₇O₁₀

Molecular weight

802.1 g/mol

CAS number

214047-00-4

Development

Highest phase: unknown.

Identifiers

PubChem 9897237, UNII KK181SM5JG

Full sequence, SMILES and InChIKey

InChIKey
WSGCRSMLXFHGRM-DEVHWETNSA-N

SMILES
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)N[C@@H](CCCCN)C(=O)N[C@@H]([C@@H](C)O)C(=O)N[C@@H]([C@@H](C)O)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCCN)C(=O)N[C@@H](CO)C(=O)O

See charge, composition and 3D structure on the Scientific page

The evidence

What Matrixyl studies show

Results grouped by what the studies measured. Each card shows where its results come from.

Mostly animal studies20 of 26 results come from studies in animals and lab cells. 2 studies in people.

Skin, hair and wounds

22 results · 5 in people · 9 animal · 8 lab

In women with photoaged facial skin, a moisturizer with pal-KTTKS improved wrinkles and fine lines more than the same moisturizer without it. International journal of cosmetic science, 2005

Immune system and inflammation

1 result · 1 animal

In rats with burns, pal-KTTKS-enriched cellulose composites reduced inflammation. Archives of dermatological research, 2024

All 2 studies in people

In people

In women with photoaged facial skin, a moisturizer with pal-KTTKS improved wrinkles and fine lines more than the same moisturizer without it.

2005International journal of cosmetic science93 people

In people

In Indonesian women with crow's feet, several PPP-4 cream users showed improvement in photographs and data.

2023The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology

All 23 Matrixyl studies by area Open the Scientific page

Key Matrixyl studies

Studies in people come first, then studies in animals and in the lab.

People
Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide provides improvement in photoaged human facial skin
Robinson et al. 2005 · International journal of cosmetic science · 93 people · cited by 104
4 results
People
Double-blind, Randomized Trial on the Effectiveness of Acetylhexapeptide-3 Cream and Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 Cream for Crow's Feet
Aruan et al. 2023 · The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology · cited by 3
2 results
Animals
Mesenchymal stem cell therapy using Pal-KTTKS-enriched carboxylated cellulose improves burn wound in rat model
Rasouli et al. 2024 · Archives of dermatological research · cited by 5
4 results
Animals
Matrixyl Patch vs Matrixyl Cream: A Comparative In Vivo Investigation of Matrixyl (MTI) Effect on Wound Healing
Kachooeian et al. 2022 · ACS omega · cited by 4
6 results
Lab cells
Effect of Palmitoyl-Pentapeptide (Pal-KTTKS) on Wound Contractile Process in Relation with Connective Tissue Growth Factor and α-Smooth Muscle Actin Expression
Park et al. 2017 · Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine · 3 subjects · cited by 10
2 results

All 23 Matrixyl (palmitoyl pentapeptide-4) studies

Matrixyl clinical trials

ClinicalTrials.gov lists no trial of Matrixyl. A trial under another name may exist.

Status and safety

Is Matrixyl approved?

FDA

United States

Status unknown

Status unknown.

EMA

European Union

Status unknown

Status unknown.

WADA

Sport

Not recorded

Status unknown.

Regulatory status not recorded. Status unknown.

Laws and labels change, so check the regulator for the current status.

Matrixyl side effects and safety

PepBank has 3 safety results from studies of Matrixyl. 1 of them come from studies in people.

Safety results from studies (3)

In women with photoaged facial skin, topical pal-KTTKS was well tolerated. (International journal of cosmetic science, 2005)
In cells, Matrixyl was more toxic to human keratinocytes than AAH. (Marine drugs, 2019)
In cells, Matrixyl showed good compatibility with fibroblasts at sufficiently low concentration. (Journal of peptide science, 2026)

See every safety result on the Scientific page

Doses studied (5 shown)

The doses that these studies used. They are not recommendations.

Dose as reported	Class	Species	Route	Duration	Design	Source
3 ppm	Human	human	topical	12 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 93	Robinson 2005
1 mg	Animal	Not reported	Not reported	21 days	Study in live animals	Kachooeian 2022
0.1 µM	Lab	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Study on cells in a dish · n = 3	Park 2017
0.5 µM	Lab	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Study on cells in a dish	Park 2017
0.0062 wt%	Lab	human	Not reported	Not reported	Study on cells in a dish	de 2026

From the community

How people use it

What people report online. It comes from forums and guides, not from studies.

Community-reported. Not tested in trials.

The source reports interest in this product. Its statements do not establish clinical benefit or a safe regimen.

Reported routines and cautions

What people use it for

Skin appearance with original Matrixyl or other Matrixyl-branded productsS1

Reported regimens

Regimens that community sources report for Matrixyl. Community-reported, not tested in trials.
Context	Route	Amount	How often	How long	Agreement	Sources
Guide describes Matrixyl or Matrixyl 3000 without separating variants	Not statedThe quote describes application to skin but does not isolate original Matrixyl.	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	One mixed-variant wiki source. The quote supports context only.	S1

Cautions

Original Matrixyl, Matrixyl 3000, and Matrixyl Synthe-6 contain different peptides. Their regimens are not interchangeable.S1

Community sources

S1Matrixyl source guidepeptideprotocolwiki.comcarries seller links, not linked

Gaps

The guide mixes original Matrixyl with Matrixyl 3000 and Synthe-6. No original-specific amount, route, frequency, or duration was established. The site carries seller rankings.

Questions and more

Ask a question about Matrixyl

The answer links to every study it uses.

What does the evidence say about Matrixyl?Is Matrixyl tested in people?Compare with L-carnosine Compare with Difelikefalin

Sources

Database: PepBank data for Matrixyl (data version 308560)
Regulator: FDA status record
Regulator: EMA status record
Regulator: WADA status record
Community: community sources (forums and guides), as summarized in the PepBank community file

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.

Ask your AI about Matrixyl

Curo is a peptide shop. PepBank and Curo have the same owner. See the Curo catalog (opens in a new tab).

Matrixyl (palmitoyl pentapeptide-4)

Also known as Matrixyl, Pal-KTTKS, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-3, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl-KTTKS

What it is

Synthetic analog, 5 amino acids

Approval

Regulatory status not recorded

In sport

Status unknown

Studies

23 studies with results. 11 of them gave Matrixyl, with 26 results.
6 in people10 in animals10 in lab cells

Best study in people

Randomized controlled trial with 93 people (2005)

Clinical trials

None registered

Community use

Skin appearance with original Matrixyl or other Matrixyl-branded products

Dose as reported

Class

Species

Route

Duration

Design

Source

3 ppm

Human

human

topical

12 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 93

Robinson 2005

1 mg

Animal

Not reported

21 days

Study in live animals

Kachooeian 2022

0.1 µM

Lab

Not reported

Study on cells in a dish · n = 3

Park 2017

0.5 µM

Lab

Not reported

Study on cells in a dish

Park 2017

0.0062 wt%

Lab

human

Not reported

Study on cells in a dish

de 2026

Context

Route

Amount

How often

How long

Agreement

Sources

Guide describes Matrixyl or Matrixyl 3000 without separating variants

Not statedThe quote describes application to skin but does not isolate original Matrixyl.

Not stated

One mixed-variant wiki source. The quote supports context only.

Matrixyl (palmitoyl pentapeptide-4)

Matrixyl (palmitoyl pentapeptide-4) at a glance

What is Matrixyl?

Matrixyl (palmitoyl pentapeptide-4) structure and chemistry