Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4

How Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 Skin Care Products Work at Reducing the Signs of Aging

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 (PP-4) Was the First of the Big Skin Care Product Launches

[ PP-4 was originally named Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-3 and later renamed to reflect a correction in the data on its molecular structure.]

"Penta-" refers to the fact that PP-4 contains five amino acids in its peptide chain. PP-4 is also known as Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, where "Oligo-" (meaning "few") is less specific and indicates that the peptide chain contains less than 30 to 50 amino acids.

The specific five amino acids and their sequence are Lysine, Threonine, Threonine, Lysine and Serine. From this chain, is derived the most specific name for PP-4, Pal-KTTKS, where "Pal" stands for Palmitoyl, "K" for Lysine, "T" for Threonine and "S" for Serine. Pal-KTTKS is patented under the name Matrixyl.

Strivectin-SD was the first Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 cream with a huge product launch as an anti-wrinkle skin care product. It had been developed to reduce stretch marks; not as an anti-aging or anti-wrinkle cream.

When patients saw how well it worked on the stretch marks, they started using it on their faces. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Palmitic acid is attached to the peptide chain as a penetration enhancer to drive the peptide through the stratum corneum into the layer of the dermis where collagen is manufactured. Synthesized KTTKS is a replication of a breakdown fragment of procollagen I.

In vitro studies performed at Ultra Aesthetics Labs demonstrated an increase in synthesis of Collagen I by 212%, Collagen IV by 100 to 327% and Hyaluronic Acid by 267%. Collagen I is predominant among the 19 forms of collagen found in the human body. Therefore increasing production of Collagen I has a very dramatic effect on rebuilding the skin.

Increasing the level of Hyaluronic Acid in the skin is essential for young-looking and young-acting skin.

Between the dermis and epidermis of young skin is a gel-like layer called the glycan network, comprised of a net of collagen fibers supported by glycan molecules.

Glycans are gel-like molecules that attract and retain water, giving the skin turgidity and elasticity. The strongest of the glycans is Hyaluronic Acid which holds up to 1000 times its weight in water.

In addition, the glycan network allows nutrients to flow freely from the dermis to the epidermis. As the body's production of glycans declines, the glycan network collapses in on itself.

The skin thins and nutrients are not able to reach the epidermis. The result is dry, thin, wrinkled, sagging, dull/looking, blotchy skin which is slow to heal and eventually doesn't heal completely at all.

In studies with human subjects at Ultra Aesthetics, significant results were observed after just two months of use. After six months, the following measurements were recorded.

• Mean wrinkle depth: -17%
• Surface area containing deep wrinkles: -68%
• Surface area containing moderate wrinkles: -51%
• Skin roughness: -16%

Skin Care Products That Contain Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4

Hylexin
StriVectin-SD
DDF Wrinkle Relax
Peter Roth Antiaging Cellular Repair

Click on any link below to learn more about specific peptides used in effective antiaging skin care products.

This article is for information only. It does not purport to offer medical advice.

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