Decapeptide-12 (topical) (200mg)

Decapeptide-12 (topical)

Decapeptide-12 is a synthetic peptide that is composed of 10 amino acids. Its developers and subsequent researchers have suggested decapeptide-12 to have the potential to inhibit melanin production in the skin by suppressing the activity of tyrosinase, an enzyme involved in the synthesis of melanin.

Decapeptide-12 does not appear to mimic any naturally occurring peptide in the body. Rather, it was designed and synthesized to exhibit specific properties. Decapeptide-12 is primarily researched in reducing melanin production and hyperpigmentation. It has also been studied for potential impact on cell growth, differentiation, and anti-aging. However, more research is needed to fully understand the potential properties and results of Decapeptide-12 experiments in these contexts.

Chemical Makeup

Molecular formula: C₆₅H₉₀N₁₈O₁₇
Molecular weight: 1395.5 g/mol

Research and Clinical Studies

Decapeptide-12 and Melasma

One clinical study aimed to evaluate the potential of Decapeptide-12 in female test subjects with moderate to severe melasma, solar lentigines, periocular lines, and wrinkles.⁽¹⁾ This 24-week experiment reported apparent improvements in all of the reported facial conditions among the 25 subjects, with sustained impact.

Another clinical trial investigated the potential of Decapeptide-12 on mild-to-moderate melasma in 33 female subjects over 16 weeks.⁽²⁾ Results suggested there was a visible reduction in the appearance of melasma.

Furthermore, one study reported a complete clearance of melasma in 25% of subjects after six weeks of Decapeptide-12 presentation.⁽³⁾ Decapeptide-12 also was reported by the researchers to exhibit apparent impact and 100% satisfaction rate amongst test subjects with the Fitzpatrick phototype IV skin type and moderate recalcitrant melasma completed.⁽⁴⁾ Subjects with Fitzpatrick skin type IV are reportedly some of the most common sufferers of melasma. The researchers concluded that: “All five participants demonstrated statistically significant improvement in the appearance of melasma and overall facial aesthetics with high patient satisfaction.”

Decapeptide-12 and Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation

A case study performed on test subjects with pigmented skin (Fitzpatrick skin type IV) reported that Decapeptide-12 may possibly accelerate the clearance of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation compared to placebo.⁽⁵⁾  The researchers suggest this might be due to the tyrosinase-inhibiting potential of Decapeptide-12.⁽⁶⁾

Decapeptide-12 and Solar Lentigo

One study evaluated the impact of Decapeptide-12 in a form of facial hyperpigmentation called solar lentigines caused by chronic photodamage in 15 female subjects.⁽⁷⁾  The results reported that 38.5% of the subjects achieved complete clearance, and all subjects appeared to exhibit some improvement. Furthermore, 30.7% of the subjects were reported to improve from a moderate degree of photodamage to a milder degree, 15.4% improved from a severe degree to a moderate degree, and another 15.4% improved from a severe degree to a milder degree after 24 weeks.

Decapeptide-12 and Anti-aging

Sirtuins are a family of genes involved in various cellular processes. They are believed to regulate cellular metabolism, DNA repair, inflammation, and stress resistance. One of the most well-known Sirtuins is SIRT1, which has been suggested to regulate various biological pathways important for aging, such as glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and cellular stress responses. Studies have also suggested that SIRT1 may be involved in extending the lifespan in certain model organisms. One of the most promising compounds is resveratrol, found in red wine, and has been suggested to activate SIRT1 in some studies.

One study looked at the potential of Decapeptide-12 on sirtuin gene expression levels in keratinocyte progenitors.⁽⁸⁾ The researchers used RT-PCR to measure the impact of Decapeptide-12 on seven Sirtuin genes and cellular viability and proliferation after 72-hour incubation with various concentrations of Decapeptide-12. The results suggested that Decapeptide-12 possibly increased the transcription of several Sirtuin genes, including SIRT1, SIRT3, SIRT6, and SIRT7, with reportedly reduced cytotoxicity. The researchers reported that “ decapeptide-12 increased transcription of SIRT1 by 141 ± 11% relative to control cells, whereas levels of SIRT3, SIRT6, and SIRT7 were increased by 121 ± 13%, 147 ± 8% and 95± 14%, respectively.”

Decapeptide-12 is available for research and laboratory purposes only. Please review and adhere to our Terms and Conditions before ordering.

References:

1. Jiang, L., Hino, P. D., Bhatia, A., Stephens, T. J., & Jimenez, F. (2018). Efficacy of Trifecting® Night Cream, a Novel Triple acting Skin Brightening Product: A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Study. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology, 11(12), 21–25.
2. Ramírez, S. P., Carvajal, A. C., Salazar, J. C., Arroyave, G., Flórez, A. M., & Echeverry, H. F. (2013). Open-label evaluation of a novel skin brightening system containing 0.01% decapeptide-12 in combination with 20% buffered glycolic acid for the treatment of mild to moderate facial melasma. Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD, 12(6), e106–e110.
3. Hantash, B. M., & Jimenez, F. (2012). Treatment of mild to moderate facial melasma with the Lumixyl topical brightening system. Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD, 11(5), 660–662.
4. Hantash, B. M., & Jimenez, F. (2009). A split-face, double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled pilot evaluation of a novel oligopeptide for the treatment of recalcitrant melasma. Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD, 8(8), 732–735.
5. Bhatia, A., Hsu, J. T.s, & Hantash, B. M. (2014). Combined topical delivery and dermalinfusion of decapeptide-12 accelerates resolution of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in skin of color. Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD, 13(1), 84–85.
6. Chen, J., Bian, J., Hantash, B. M., Albakr, L., Hibbs, D. E., Xiang, X., Xie, P., Wu, C., & Kang, L. (2021). Enhanced skin retention and permeation of a novel peptide via structural modification, chemical enhancement, and microneedles. International journal of pharmaceutics, 606, 120868. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120868
7. Kassim, A. T., Hussain, M., & Goldberg, D. J. (2012). Open-label evaluation of the skin-brightening efficacy of a skin-brightening system using decapeptide-12. Journal of cosmetic and laser therapy : official publication of the European Society for Laser Dermatology, 14(2), 117–121. https://doi.org/10.3109/14764172.2012.672745
8. Basil, M. H., & Anan, A. U. (2019). Tyrosinase inhibitors with potent anti-senescence activity in human neonatal keratinocyte progenitors. J Dermatol Surg Res Ther, 2019, 30-39.