In Plain English:
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (trade name Rigin) is a synthetic tetrapeptide — four amino acids (Gly-Gln-Pro-Arg) capped with a palmitic acid tail — developed by Sederma to mimic the anti-inflammatory region of immunoglobulin G. The palmitic acid chain acts as a carrier, dramatically boosting passage through the stratum corneum so the peptide can reach live keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Once there it dials down production of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a key cytokine that drives chronic low-grade skin inflammation and triggers the matrix metalloproteinases that chew through collagen and elastin. It is best known as one half of the Matrixyl 3000 complex (paired with Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1), though it is also sold as a standalone cosmetic active. Two decades of formulation use have generated no significant adverse event reports.
Research Maturity
Limited Human (~15 PubMed results; no standalone RCTs, all data from multi-ingredient formulations+ Studies)
Focus
Cosmetic Dermatology
Inflammation
Skin Aging
Origin
Developed by Sederma (France) and launched under the trade name Rigin. The GQPR sequence is modelled on residues 224–227 in the constant (Fc) region of human immunoglobulin G, the same region that governs IgG's immunosuppressive activity in vivo. It was originally registered as Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3; the name was updated to Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 in a 2010 INCI revision — same molecule, new designation. Matrixyl 3000, the Sederma combination product pairing Pal-GHK with Pal-GQPR, launched circa 2005 and remains among the most widely used cosmetic peptide complexes globally.
Mechanism
Binds keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts and suppresses basal and UV-induced secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6). IL-6 is the upstream driver of MMP-1 (collagenase) and MMP-3 expression; reducing IL-6 preserves extracellular matrix integrity by limiting collagen and elastin degradation. Separately, the peptide stimulates phagocytic activity analogous to Tuftsin (an IgG-derived tetrapeptide), improving clearance of cellular debris and inflammatory mediators. The palmitoyl tail (C16 fatty acid) provides lipophilicity that enables penetration of the stratum corneum barrier and increases residence time in the epidermis. In the Matrixyl 3000 pairing, Pal-GQPR handles inflammation suppression while Pal-GHK drives new collagen I/III and elastin synthesis — a build-and-protect strategy. Laminin-5 and collagen VII (anchoring fibrils at the dermo-epidermal junction) are also upregulated per supplier data.
Outcome
PMC4950680 (2016, ETM journal): 20 female volunteers, 4 weeks twice-daily, formulation containing 1% palmitoyl oligopeptide + palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7. Crow's-foot wrinkles reduced 14.07%, skin elasticity +8.79%, dermal density +27.63%, erythema (a*) reduced 22.39%. No adverse events. PMC11208285 (2024, Skin Research and Technology): 37 women, 12 weeks, open-label, eye-area formulation including Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 at 0.0001% + Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 at 0.0002%. Fine lines reduced 26.88%, wrinkles reduced 34.88%, skin elasticity improved 18.81%, collagen density increased 54.99%, hydration +28.12%. In vitro: collagen Type I 1.8× increase, collagen Type III 2.5× increase, elastin 5.0× increase, fibronectin 1.6× increase. Both studies confounded by multi-ingredient formulations; no standalone Pal-GQPR-only human trial has been published.
