Dermatology · Investigational
Matrixyl Synthe'6 (Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38)
No lawful US pathway
01 · Overview
Palmitoyl tripeptide-38 is a synthetic lipopeptide described as a matrix-repair peptide for photoaged skin (PMID 33103342). Its supplier markets it as stimulating synthesis of six dermal matrix constituents, namely collagen I, III, and IV, fibronectin, hyaluronic acid, and laminin, but these claims have not been confirmed in independent peer-reviewed laboratory studies.
The palmitic acid conjugate is intended to improve delivery into the skin when applied topically.
02 · Research summary & key findings
No independent peer-reviewed in vitro studies of palmitoyl tripeptide-38 alone were found in PubMed. Human evidence comes from multi-ingredient products: an open-label 56-day study of a serum combining vitamin C, vitamin E, and palmitoyl tripeptide-38 reported 8 to 9 percent reductions in skin roughness and improved skin tone, with authors serving as consultants to the product maker (PMID 33103342), and a 28-day study in 32 women of a serum also containing apple stem cell extract, creatine, and urea reported anti-wrinkle effects and increased dermal density (PMID 26424007). Neither study had a placebo arm or isolated the peptide's effect, and histological confirmation of matrix remodeling in human skin has not been published.
03 · Regulatory status
Matrixyl Synthe'6 (Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38) is in the investigational stage. While preclinical and early-phase data exist, it has not received regulatory approval for clinical use in the United States.
No lawful pathway today
Matrixyl Synthe'6 (Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38) is not FDA-approved and does not currently have a lawful prescription or compounding pathway in the United States, so we do not sell it and will not book a consultation for it. That can change: in 2026 FDA began reviewing several peptides for compounding. If you are working on the goal it is studied for, a licensed clinician can tell you what is lawfully available, which may be something else.
See the 1 FDA-approved compound in Dermatology
Tell me if the status changes
One email, only if this compound's regulatory standing actually moves. Not a newsletter, not a sales sequence.
Looking for a lawful, clinician-prescribed option for longevity and healthy ageing?
Matrixyl Synthe'6 (Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38) is an investigational compound, is not FDA-approved, and has no lawful US compounding pathway, so we do not offer it and no clinician we work with will prescribe it. Products sold online as “research chemicals” are not made or tested to the standards required of medicines. If you are working on longevity and healthy ageing, a licensed clinician can tell you at a free consultation whether an FDA-approved or lawfully compounded treatment fits you, or whether nothing does.
Explore lawful options (free intake)About 3 minutes. If a protocol is prescribed through our provider, we earn 10% of the sale. See the receipts.
04 · Administration routes
- Topical
References
- [1]Biorevitalizing effect of a novel facial serum containing apple stem cell extract, pro-collagen lipopeptide, creatine, and urea on skin aging signs J Cosmet Dermatol, 2016. PMID 26424007
- [2]A serum containing vitamins C & E and a matrix-repair tripeptide reduces facial signs of aging as evidenced by Primos® analysis and frequently repeated auto-perception J Cosmet Dermatol, 2020. PMID 33103342
Primary literature
- PubMed: "Matrixyl Synthe'6"
Peer-reviewed literature indexed by the National Library of Medicine.
- ClinicalTrials.gov: "Matrixyl Synthe'6"
Registered interventional and observational studies, including status and phase.
- PubChem: "Matrixyl Synthe'6"
Chemical structure, molecular properties, and bioactivity data.
Related peptides in Dermatology
Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational and research purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any peptide therapy. The Peptide Association does not endorse or recommend any specific treatment protocol. See our editorial policy for how this content is produced and reviewed. Clinicians: join the network.