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Mtx3.0
Matrixyl Research
Mostly mechanism / observationalHigh safety
6 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Mostly mechanism / observational
Most Matrixyl studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.
Most evidence is from mixed-quality randomised trials published 2004–2025.
Based on 6 studies · 3 RCTs
Confidence
Moderate
By outcome
Skin health
Mostly mechanism / observational6 studies
Safety profile
Too few graded studies1 study
Active research area
3 studies in the last 5 years
200420142025
1RCT2005
Pal-KTTKS was well tolerated by the skin and provided significant improvement vs. placebo control for reduction in wrinkles/fine lines by both quantitative technical and expert grader image analysis.
Robinson LR, Fitzgerald NC, Doughty DG, Dawes NC, Berge CA, Bissett DL. · Int J Cosmet Sci (2005)
The strongest human evidence: a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, split-face, left-right randomized trial in 93 women aged 35-55 (Procter & Gamble)
A moisturizer containing 3 ppm pal-KTTKS significantly reduced wrinkles/fine lines versus the same moisturizer alone by both quantitative image analysis and expert grading
Pal-KTTKS was well tolerated; subjects also self-reported fine-line/wrinkle improvement
Double-blind randomized trial in 21 Indonesian women applying palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 (PPP-4) cream, acetyl hexapeptide-3 cream, or placebo twice daily for 8 weeks
Assessed with Corneometer, Tewameter, Cutometer, photography and a Crow's Feet Grading Scale
PPP-4 showed better crow's-feet results than both acetyl hexapeptide-3 and placebo
3In Vitro2014
this study indicated that pal-KTTKS had greater stability and permeability than that of un-modified KTTKS, and may be a useful anti-wrinkle and anti-aging cosmeceutical agent.
Choi YL, Park EJ, Kim E, Na DH, Shin YH. · Biomol Ther (Seoul) (2014)
In-vitro stability and permeation study in hairless-mouse skin comparing KTTKS with its palmitoylated derivative pal-KTTKS (Matrixyl)
Both peptides degraded rapidly, but pal-KTTKS was more stable than unmodified KTTKS
pal-KTTKS was detected in the stratum corneum, epidermis and dermis, whereas unmodified KTTKS was not detected in any skin layer
Cosmetic peptides, such as palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 (Matrixyl) and Tetrapeptide-21 (GEKG), are also studied for their ability to stimulate collagen synthesis and remodel the extracellular matrix.
In-vitro study of human dermal fibroblasts treated with Matrixyl (palmitoyl pentapeptide-4) alone and in combination with injectable platelet-rich fibrin
Measured viability/proliferation (MTT, crystal violet, RealTime-Glo) and ECM-related gene expression COL1A1, FN1 and HAS1 by RT-qPCR
In direct comparison with dexpanthenol-containing lotion, no advantage for Thêta-Cream was found.
Röper B, Kaisig D, Auer F, Mergen E, Molls M. · Strahlenther Onkol (2004)
Prospective randomized trial of a Matrixyl-containing cream (Thêta-Cream) versus standard dexpanthenol lotion for radiation skin toxicity in breast-cancer patients
No differences in skin-toxicity scores between groups — no advantage for the Matrixyl-containing cream
Adverse events (suspected allergic reaction, need for resimulation) occurred only in the Matrixyl-cream group; a trend toward worse skin marks was noted