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Part of the skin and hair peptide hub: every topical and cosmetic peptide we cover, with its evidence grade.

Evidence: LowPeptide Research Only Cosmetic & Skin

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10

also known as: Pal-KTFK, N-Palmitoyl-Lys-Thr-Phe-Lys

Pal-KTFK, a palmitoylated tetrapeptide sold for skin-care products. Its one study is a 2026 laboratory screen in which it raised type III collagen in skin cells.

Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-10 is a synthetic lipopeptide, a palmitoyl group on the tetrapeptide Lys-Thr-Phe-Lys (PubChem's record gives the structure under its INCI name). It is sold as a skin-care ingredient. The one study found is a 2026 screen of peptides from China's inventory of cosmetic ingredients, in which it was one of four that raised type III collagen in ultraviolet-exposed human dermal fibroblasts without detectable toxicity. No study in people was found. It is not a drug.

No dosing data yet Details ↓

Mechanism of action

Not established in people. In a 2026 laboratory screen it raised type III collagen in human dermal fibroblasts after ultraviolet exposure; the targets were predicted by docking, not measured.

Primary uses

Typical dosing

Not established for human use

No published study states an amount of this ingredient used on skin, and a supplier's use level is not a source on this site, so none is given.

Regulatory status

Not a drug: PubChem lists it under its INCI name as a cosmetic ingredient (CID 24967468). Drugs@FDA and the EMA medicines list hold no record for it (searched October 28, 2026).

Status as of this entry's last review, October 28, 2026. Approvals, compounding rules and sport rules change; the regulatory tracker is checked more often.

What we checked

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10 is a cosmetic peptide ingredient with little or no published literature; this section records what can be checked.

Identity, computed

Structurepalmitoyl-Lys-Thr-Phe-Lys, free acid (PubChem's synonym and IUPAC name, CID 24967468)
FormulaC41H72N6O7 (PubChem)
Molecular weight761.0 g/mol (PubChem)

The calculator used elsewhere on this site does not handle this N-terminal acyl group, so the formula and weight are PubChem's, not computed here.

Regulatory status, read October 29, 2026

Drugs@FDA: 0 records for “palmitoyl tetrapeptide-10”. EMA medicines list: 0 records for “palmitoyl tetrapeptide-10”. Run for semaglutide, the same queries return 6 and 5 records (and the registry search 81 trials), so a zero here is an absence, not a broken search. Not named on the WADA 2026 and 2027 Prohibited Lists. As a substance with no current approval for human therapeutic use, it falls under section S0 (non-approved substances), which is prohibited at all times; the lists were read on October 28, 2026.

What the studies show

A 2026 study screened peptides listed in China's inventory of existing cosmetic ingredients by molecular docking; in ultraviolet-exposed human dermal fibroblasts, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-10 was one of four peptides that significantly raised type III collagen without detectable cytotoxicity (Zang et al., 2026).

What we looked for and did not find

No study in people, no registry record and no drug approval.

SourceQueryResults, October 29, 2026What it was
PubMed("tetrapeptide-10"[tiab] AND palmitoyl[tiab])00 because the 2026 paper's abstract runs the name into the next word ('tetrapeptide-10-significantly'); the paper was found by a full-text search and read on PubMed
ClinicalTrials.govpalmitoyl tetrapeptide-100
Drugs@FDA (openFDA)palmitoyl tetrapeptide-100
EMA medicines listpalmitoyl tetrapeptide-100

References

  1. [other] PubChem CID 24967468, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10: formula C41H72N6O7, molecular weight 761.0. Read October 28, 2026. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/24967468
  2. [pubmed] Zang S, et al. "Mechanistic understanding and peptide ingredient screening for type III collagen via biological knowledge graph and molecular docking." Int J Cosmet Sci, 2026. PMID: 42683869.

Related peptides

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4

The palmitoylated procollagen fragment sold as Matrixyl (pal-KTTKS): in a 12-week split-face trial in 93 women a moisturiser containing it reduced wrinkles more than the same moisturiser alone. A cosmetic ingredient, not a drug.

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Pal-GQPR, the second peptide in a popular anti-wrinkle blend: studied alone only in a 2026 cell screen and a three-person skin permeation study; its IL-6 claim has no published source.

Pal-GHK

The palmitoylated form of the GHK tripeptide (distinct from GHK-Cu) — widely used as a cosmetic ingredient in combination with Matrixyl (Matrixyl 3000 is Pal-GHK + Pal-KTTKS) for fine-line reduction.

Argireline

A cosmetic-industry hexapeptide marketed as "topical Botox" — reduces muscle contraction signaling at the neuromuscular junction; modest but documented effects on expression-line depth.

Guides & tools

Disclaimer

This entry is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Dosing information reflects published regulatory or research data and is not a recommendation. Many compounds described here are not approved for human use in the United States. Consult a licensed medical professional before considering any peptide therapy.