Dermal Peptide
A peptide designed to act on skin cells for therapeutic or cosmetic purposes. Approved dermal peptides include bacitracin and gramicidin (topical antibiotics) and cyclosporine ophthalmic formulation. Numerous peptide sequences are marketed for anti-ageing skincare, though clinical evidence varies widely.
Technical Context
Dermal peptide categories: (1) Pharmaceutical dermal peptides: cyclosporine ophthalmic (dry eye disease — immunosuppression at ocular surface), bacitracin/gramicidin (topical antibiotics), and investigational wound healing peptides. (2) Cosmeceutical peptides: signal peptides (Matrixyl/palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 — collagen synthesis stimulation; Matrixyl 3000/palmitoyl tripeptide-1 + palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 — ECM component production), carrier peptides (GHK-Cu/copper peptide — delivering copper for enzymatic collagen synthesis and antioxidant activity), neurotransmitter-inhibiting peptides (acetyl hexapeptide-3/Argireline — claims to reduce wrinkles by inhibiting neuromuscular junction activity, sometimes called 'topical Botox'), and enzyme-inhibiting peptides (soybean-derived peptides inhibiting protease-mediated collagen degradation). Evidence quality varies: pharmaceutical peptides have Phase III RCT data; cosmeceutical peptides typically have small studies, in vitro data, or no published clinical evidence.