Many people researching skin creams for stretch marks come across palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 on an ingredient list and wonder what it actually does. Here is what the available labeling and data say about this compound.
Key takeaways
- Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 appears as an active ingredient in a product labeled "Stretch Marks cream."
- The label lists it under a non-standardized food allergenic extract pharmacologic class.
- No boxed warning is present on the label.
- No clinical trials for this compound are currently registered in the dataset reviewed.
- Its chemical identity is catalogued under PubChem CID 9897237, with a molecular formula of C39H75N7O10.
What palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 is
Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 is a peptide compound formulated into a topical cream product. It has a molecular weight of about 802.1 and is built from a fatty acid chain (palmitoyl) attached to a short chain of amino acids. No mechanism of action is detailed in the label data reviewed for this monograph.
What palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 is approved for
The labeling for the product "Stretch Marks cream" states that it is intended to remove scars, support repair, and enhance skin elasticity, with directions to apply it over the body, focusing on the abdomen, each morning and evening. The label does not carry a boxed warning.
What the evidence shows
The dataset reviewed shows no registered clinical trials for palmitoyl pentapeptide-4. No trial information is available to describe study design, phase, or outcomes for this compound.
Reported side effects
No adverse event reports were available in the dataset reviewed for palmitoyl pentapeptide-4. As a result, no side effect pattern can be summarized at this time.