GHK (Basic) vs Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
A side-by-side research comparison of GHK (Basic) and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 across mechanism, dosing, half-life, benefits, side effects and research status.
Comparison table
| Attribute | GHK (Basic) | Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | GHK (Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine, Copper-Free) | Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (Pal-GQPR) |
| Category | Skin & Anti-Aging | Skin & Anti-Aging |
| Status | Cosmetic research peptide | Research compound |
| Mechanism | GHK is a matrikine signal peptide that resets gene expression toward tissue repair, stimulating collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycan synthesis and modulating antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways. It readily binds copper to become GHK-Cu in situ. | Inhibits IL-6 release from keratinocytes and reduces inflammation-mediated MMP activation, preserving existing collagen while complementing Pal-GHK collagen building. |
| Molecular weight | 340.4 Da | 693 Da |
| Half-life | Short (peptide) | 8-12 hours (topical) |
| Bioavailability | Topical (local); injectable (research) | Good (topical) |
| Typical dose | Topical serum (~1-3 mg/mL) | 2-4% in formulation |
| Frequency | 1-2x daily | 1-2x daily |
| Route | Topical | Topical |
GHK (Basic) reported benefits
- Skin remodeling and repair signaling
- Stimulates collagen and elastin
- Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
- Supports wound healing
- Improves skin firmness
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 reported benefits
- Anti-inflammatory (skin)
- Reduces IL-6
- Prevents collagen degradation
- Combats inflammaging
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Research and educational reference only. Not medical advice.