Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7
Signal / anti-inflammatory peptide
Also Matrixyl 3000, Pal-GQPR, Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-3, Rigin, Palmitoyl tetrapeptide 7, Pal-tetrapeptide-7
- Evidence
- DNo meaningful data
- FDA status
- Cosmetic ingredientas of 2026-10-26
- Route
- Topical
- Studies cited
- 0 human0 animal or cell
An ingredient in anti-wrinkle creams, sold as a skin calmer. No published trial in people backs it, only the maker's own figures.
Sold for
Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 is one half of Matrixyl 3000 and is marketed as an anti-inflammatory peptide that calms skin and reduces wrinkles.
Studies say
The published record is a safety review and nothing on efficacy, so the claims rest on manufacturer data and the grade is D.
Why grade D. The only peer-reviewed publication identified is a 2018 industry safety assessment, which addresses toxicity, not benefit. The efficacy claims, including the widely quoted wrinkle reductions for the Matrixyl 3000 blend, come from the manufacturer's unpublished testing of a two-peptide combination. No independent human trial of palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 alone exists in these sources. 1
FDA. Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 is a cosmetic ingredient and is not approved by the FDA as a drug for any use. The FDA regulates cosmetics after they reach the market and does not approve their ingredients. 2
Written from 2 cited sources. Fact-checked 2026-10-27: 7 claims checked, 0 corrected. Last refreshed 2026-10-27. Not physician reviewed.
What this means for you
- What people take it for
- Calming skin and reducing wrinkles.
- Can a US doctor prescribe it?
- No prescription; it is a cosmetic ingredient.
- Properly tested in people?
- No meaningful testing published.
Evidence checklist
- Randomised controlled trial No controlled trial of this peptideno
- Human study over 100 people No published human trialno
- More than one research group Efficacy figures are manufacturer datano
- Clinical outcomes, not surrogate markers Wrinkle numbers from unpublished blend testsno
- Human safety data beyond case reports Industry safety review: safe in cosmeticsyes
Drawn from the cited studies below. A dash means the sources give no information.
What it is
Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 is a four-amino-acid fragment of immunoglobulin G attached to a palmitic acid tail for skin penetration. Sederma pairs it with palmitoyl tripeptide-1 in the Matrixyl 3000 blend, which is probably the most widely used peptide combination in anti-aging cosmetics. It is also sold on its own under the name Rigin. 1
On product labels it appears under its INCI name. It is a cosmetic ingredient in the United States, with no drug approval and no requirement for one as long as the product makes cosmetic claims and no therapeutic claims. 2
How it works
The manufacturer's premise is that the peptide reduces production of interleukin-6, an inflammatory signal that skin cells release after ultraviolet exposure and that rises with age, and that lowering chronic low-grade inflammation slows collagen breakdown. The supporting data are cell-culture experiments described in supplier literature. No peer-reviewed mechanistic study in human skin has been identified. 1
What human research shows
There is no published controlled trial of palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 in people in these sources. The clinical figures attached to Matrixyl 3000, such as reductions in wrinkle depth and improvements in skin roughness, come from the manufacturer's testing of the two-peptide blend and have not been published in a peer-reviewed journal in a form that isolates this peptide. 1
| Study | Model | Finding |
|---|---|---|
| CIR safety assessment 2018 | Expert panel review of toxicology and use concentration data | Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 judged safe in cosmetics at present practices of use. 1 |
| FDA cosmetic regulation | Regulatory document | Cosmetic ingredients are not approved before sale; the manufacturer is responsible for safety and claims. 2 |
Safety
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel assessed palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 in 2018 alongside tripeptide-1 and hexapeptide-12 and concluded it is safe at the concentrations used in cosmetics, which are typically a few parts per million. No adverse reactions specific to it have been reported. The review covers safety only. 1
Questions for your clinician
- Is there independent evidence for this peptide on its own?
- Are the quoted wrinkle results for a blend?
- Which anti-ageing ingredients have controlled trials?
Questions people ask
Does palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 reduce wrinkles?
No published independent trial shows that it does. The numbers quoted in marketing come from the manufacturer's testing of Matrixyl 3000, a blend, and cannot be attributed to this peptide alone. 1
What is Matrixyl 3000?
A Sederma ingredient combining palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 with palmitoyl tripeptide-1. It is different from the original Matrixyl, which contains palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 and has one published controlled trial behind it. 1
Is it safe for sensitive skin?
The 2018 safety assessment found no irritation or sensitization concern at cosmetic concentrations. Peptides of this size rarely cause reactions, though any finished product can irritate through its other ingredients. 1
Citations
- Johnson 2018 (Cosmetic Ingredient Review), Int J Toxicol: safety assessment of tripeptide-1, hexapeptide-12, their metal salts and fatty acyl derivatives, and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 pure.psu.edu
- FDA: how cosmetics are not FDA-approved but are FDA-regulated fda.gov