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claims, including the widely quoted wrinkle reductions for the Matrixyl 3000 blend, come from the manufacturer's unpublished testing of a two-peptide combination.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- Clinical outcomes, not surrogate markers Wrinkle numbers from unpublished blend testsno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 piece of immunoglobulin G with four amino acids. A palmitic acid tail helps it enter the skin. Sederma pairs it with palmitoyl tripeptide-1 in the Matrixyl 3000 blend. This is probably the most used peptide mix 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. In the United States it is a cosmetic ingredient. It has no drug approval, and it needs none as long as the product makes cosmetic claims and no therapeutic claims. 2
How it works
The maker says the peptide reduces production of interleukin-6. This is an inflammatory signal. Skin cells release it after ultraviolet light, and it rises with age. The maker also says that less long-term mild inflammation slows collagen breakdown. The supporting data are cell tests in supplier papers. No peer-reviewed study of this in human skin has been found. 1
What human research shows
These sources contain no published controlled trial of palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 in people. Matrixyl 3000 has clinical figures, such as less wrinkle depth and smoother skin. They come from the maker's own tests of the two-peptide blend. No peer-reviewed journal has published them 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
In 2018 the Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel assessed palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, along with tripeptide-1 and hexapeptide-12. It found the peptide safe at the doses used in cosmetics. These are usually a few parts per million. No reactions linked 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 maker's tests of Matrixyl 3000, a blend. They cannot be credited to this peptide alone. 1
What is Matrixyl 3000?
A Sederma ingredient. It joins palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 and palmitoyl tripeptide-1. It is not the original Matrixyl. That one has palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 and one published controlled trial behind it. 1
Is it safe for sensitive skin?
The 2018 safety review found no irritation or sensitization concern at cosmetic doses. Peptides this small rarely cause reactions. But a finished product can still irritate skin 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