Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, part of Matrixyl 3000, is a skin repair ingredient with anti-aging properties. It has anti-aging and stabilizing effects and is often used in cosmetics. It is a synthetic peptide composed of four amino acids (glycine-glutamine-proline-arginine) and palmitic acid. The addition of the fatty acid palmitic acid enhances the stability and permeability of the ingredient to the skin.
Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 reduces the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) by keratinocytes and fibroblasts, key cells in the skin. Interleukin-6 is a mediator of inflammation that causes faster degradation of extracellular matrix components, promotes wrinkle formation and reduces skin firmness and elasticity. Reduces IL-6 and other pro-inflammatory agents palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, protecting extracellular matrix components from degradation, thus making the skin look younger.
Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 is used in beauty products and cosmetics to suppress the production of excess interleukins, the chemical messengers that trigger the body's acute inflammatory response. This can lead to glycation damage, or the process by which glucose links with proteins and causes them to bind together, stiffening tissues. This negatively affects the skin's support system, comprised of collagen, elastin, and other proteins, and leads to wrinkles, sagging, and uneven skin tone.