Do peptide creams do anything?

What we can tell you today: how thoroughly this has been studied.

Studied in controlled trials

13 studies, of which 4 are controlled trials in people with a hundred participants or more. No overview combining them yet.

4 Large controlled trial 4 studies

3 Small study in people 9 studies

This says how thoroughly something has been studied — not whether it works for you. What each study actually found is in the study itself, and in the plain-language write-ups we are adding.

Appears under: Skin aging · Menopause and hormones · Hair and nails

The studies

4 Large controlled trial Low-molecular-weight collagen peptides supplement promotes a healthy skin: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study.
2024 · Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 100 participants
4 Large controlled trial Oral consumption of Bonito fish-derived elastin peptide (VGPG Elastin ® ) improves biophysical properties in aging skin: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study.
2024 · Skin research and technology : official journal of Inte · 100 participants
4 Large controlled trial A randomized, controlled comparative study of the wrinkle reduction benefits of a cosmetic niacinamide/peptide/retinyl propionate product regimen vs. a prescription 0.02% tretinoin product regimen.
2010 · The British journal of dermatology · 196 participants
4 Large controlled trial [Splenopeptides for climacteric complaints. Comparison of ovarian stimulation with transdermal estradiol substitution].
1995 · Arzneimittel-Forschung · 256 participants
3 Small study in people Safety and Efficacy of an Injectable Solution Enriched With Sodium Hyaluronate, Amino Acids, and Peptides in Relation to Superficial Facial Connective Tissues (Dermis and Retinacular Cutis).
2025 · Journal of cosmetic dermatology
3 Small study in people OS-01 Peptide Topical Formulation Improves Skin Barrier Function and Reduces Systemic Inflammation Markers: A Pilot 12-Week Clinical Trial.
2025 · Journal of cosmetic dermatology
3 Small study in people The evidence from in vitro primary fibroblasts and a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of tuna collagen peptides intake on skin health.
2024 · Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 72 participants
3 Small study in people Sunscreens and Cosmetic Formulations Containing Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate and Rice Peptides for the Improvement of Skin Photoaging: A Double-blind, Randomized Placebo-controlled Clinical Study.
2022 · Photochemistry and photobiology
3 Small study in people Effects of Composite Supplement Containing Collagen Peptide and Ornithine on Skin Conditions and Plasma IGF-1 Levels-A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.
2019 · Marine drugs
3 Small study in people Efficacy of bioactive peptides loaded on hyaluronic acid microneedle patches: A monocentric clinical study.
2020 · Journal of cosmetic dermatology · manufacturer helped fund this
3 Small study in people Oral supplementation with specific bioactive collagen peptides improves nail growth and reduces symptoms of brittle nails.
2018 · Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 25 participants
3 Small study in people Randomized controlled trial on a PRP-like cosmetic, biomimetic peptides based, for the treatment of alopecia areata.
2019 · The Journal of dermatological treatment
3 Small study in people Naturally Occurring Hair Growth Peptide: Water-Soluble Chicken Egg Yolk Peptides Stimulate Hair Growth Through Induction of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Production.
2018 · Journal of medicinal food