Anti-Wrinkle Ingredients: Palmitoyl Pentapeptide

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide is a compound that is derived from a five-part chain of amino acids known as pro-collagen I pentapeptide. By itself, this amino chain has been shown to increase the production of collagen in laboratory cultures. Palmitoyl pentapeptide is a synthetic derivative of this five-part amino acid chain, and it is normally marketed under the brand name Matrixyl, which is simply a combination of palmitic acids and amino-acid chains.

Functionally, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide promotes the production of two compounds: collagen and hyaluronic acid. Combined, these compounds help the skin recover and heal from wounds and penetrative damage by generating new specialized skin cells that bind the damaged tissue together.

Side Effects & Potential Dangers

No side effects or adverse reactions have been attributed to the presence of Palmitoyl Pentapeptide in topical cosmetic products, to date. The compound is generally considered to be safe, but some companies have calculated that this product only achieves its ideal effects in concentrations ranging from 3-5%, and few, if any, products actually contain this estimated amount. This means most products that contain Palmitoyl Pentapeptides do not give customers the best results for the cost of purchasing the product.

Clinical Research

Although there are no published federal studies on the potential benefits or adverse effects that can result from using cosmetic products containing Palmitoyl Pentapeptide, there are a handful of private studies that have concluded that the compound has no immediate or obvious dangers. In a 1933 study, researchers at the University of Tennessee found that cells which were not producing enough collagen, as a result of the aging process, began producing collagen at normal levels when treated with pure solutions of Palmitoyl Pentapeptide. Another study, this one conducted by the Procter & Gamble manufacturing company, took the conclusion from the University of Tennessee a step further by reaching the same result, and having quantitative data to support their findings. This last study should be taken with a grain of salt, though, since one of the products manufactured by Procter & Gamble is an enriched variant of palmitoyl pentapeptide.

For information on products which contain Palmitoyl Pentapeptide, check our reviews and rankings of today’s top products in our product comparison chart.