Category
Anti-aging
Peptides for skin, connective tissue and general aging markers. Spans genuinely well-studied topical compounds (GHK-Cu) to speculative systemic 'bioregulator' peptides (Epithalon) with a much thinner human evidence base.
Category primer
This category has the widest evidence spread on the whole wiki. GHK-Cu's topical effects are backed by decades of real research. Systemic anti-aging claims for compounds like Epithalon rest on a much smaller, less independently replicated body of work. Read each research-summary section on its own terms rather than assuming uniform evidence quality here.
PEPTIDES in this category
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5-Amino-1MQ
NNMT inhibitor that redirects nicotinamide into NAD+ synthesis. Popular in biohacker circles, backed by zero human trials.
Research chemical -
AHK-Cu
Topical copper tripeptide marketed for hair follicle stimulation, distinct from (and less studied than) GHK-Cu.
Cosmetic ingredient (topical, unregulated as drug) -
AICAR
AMPK activator marketed as 'exercise in a pill.' WADA-banned in sport, not FDA-approved for anything.
Research chemical -
CJC-1295 with DAC
Long-acting GHRH analog with week-long half-life via albumin binding; distinct from daily-dosing CJC-1295.
Research compound -
Epithalon
A synthetic tetrapeptide based on a natural pineal-gland extract, studied by Russian researchers for telomerase activation, sleep and immune aging.
Research chemical -
FOXO4-DRI
Senolytic peptide that disrupts the FOXO4-p53 interaction to induce selective apoptosis of senescent cells. Highly promising in mouse models, with minimal human evidence.
Research compound -
GHK-Cu
A naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide found in human plasma. The best-studied skin peptide, also investigated for wound healing, hair and connective tissue.
Cosmetic (topical) / off-label injectable -
Glutathione
The body's main intracellular antioxidant tripeptide; oral supplementation genuinely raises body stores in trials, but the skin-lightening and detox claims built on top of that are much thinner.
Research chemical -
Hexarelin
Potent dual-receptor GH secretagogue with cardioprotective properties, limited by rapid receptor desensitization.
Research compound -
Leuphasyl
A stabilized enkephalin fragment marketed as a topical, needle-free alternative to neuromuscular-blocking wrinkle treatments — the mechanism is plausible, the human wrinkle-reduction evidence is thin.
Research chemical -
LL-37
Endogenous antimicrobial and immunomodulatory peptide with evidence for topical wound healing and emerging systemic applications.
FDA Category 1 bulk drug (compounding-pharmacy use only) -
Matrixyl
Lipidated collagen-mimetic peptide (palmitoyl-KTTKS) that pushes fibroblasts to make more collagen and glycosaminoglycans.
Cosmetic ingredient (topical, unregulated as drug) -
Melanotan I
FDA- and EU-approved MC1R agonist for erythropoietic protoporphyria; regulated pharmaceutical with photoprotection benefits, distinct from unregulated MT-2.
FDA approved (2019, USA) -
Melanotan II
Unregulated synthetic melanocortin agonist used illicitly for tanning and erectile function, with significant cardiovascular and melanoma safety concerns.
Research chemical -
PTD-DBM
Preclinical peptide that blocks a Wnt-pathway inhibitor (CXXC5) in hair follicles, designed to restore hair regrowth through molecular disinhibition.
Research chemical -
Snap-8
Topical cosmetic peptide marketed as a non-invasive alternative to Botox for expression lines.
Cosmetic ingredient (topical, unregulated as drug) -
Somatropin
FDA-approved recombinant growth hormone for deficiency, widely used off-label for performance and body composition.
FDA-approved (GHD treatment) -
Teriparatide
FDA-approved PTH analog that stimulates bone formation. Used clinically for osteoporosis and investigationally for stress fractures and fracture healing.
FDA-approved for osteoporosis -
Thymosin Alpha-1
A naturally occurring immune-regulating peptide, approved as a prescription drug (Zadaxin) in dozens of countries for chronic hepatitis B/C and as an immune adjuvant, one of the few peptides here with real regulatory approval somewhere in the world.
Approved abroad (Rx) -
Zinc-thymulin
A zinc-dependent thymic hormone with real, decades-old immunology behind it, repackaged for topical hair-loss use on evidence that is mostly adjacent, not direct.
Research chemical
POPULAR stacks in this category
- CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin — A GHRH and a GHRP paired to push more GH out of the pituitary.
- BPC-157 + TB-500 + GHK-Cu — The base recovery stack plus a collagen-remodeling peptide.
- BPC-157 + TB-500 + GHK-Cu + KPV — The full recovery stack plus an anti-inflammatory tripeptide.