Peptide Breakthrough: The Science-Backed Sequence for Modern Wrinkles

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• Emerging Aging Signs: New Wrinkles from Modern Lifestyles
• Decoding the Modern Signs of Skin Aging
• A Groundbreaking Peptide Sequence for Youthful Skin
• A New Era of Anti-Aging Innovation with Corum
• The Future of Peptides in Skincare: What’s coming next?

Emerging Aging Signs: New Wrinkles from Modern Lifestyles 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), by 2030, one in six people globally will be aged 60 years or older, driving the continuous demand for anti-aging products. As consumers seek practical solutions for maintaining youthful skin, the focus has been mainly on reducing the most noticeable sign of aging – wrinkles. Traditionally, consumers have associated wrinkle care with concerns such as crow’s feet, forehead, frown, and nasolabial fold wrinkles. 

With lifestyle factors that may be different from before, we now see two new types of wrinkles emerging from our everyday habitual movements. These new wrinkle types and concerns are gaining attention in modern skincare science. 

Continue reading to learn about these new concerns, and how Corum is bringing a breakthrough solution through peptides. 

Decoding the Modern Signs of Skin Aging

As habits such as smoking and drinking through straws become more and more part of our daily lives, “barcode wrinkles” are now a new sign of aging to worry about. These wrinkles are characterized as vertical fine lines above the upper lip. The repetitive lip movements involved in these habits, paired with age-related collagen depletion, has resulted in the formation of these wrinkles being more present than ever before. Over time, these lines become etched into the skin, particularly around the delicate lip area, revealing a new sign of aging that consumers are concerned about. 

Another category of these new, modern wrinkles are horizontal neck wrinkles, commonly referred to as “tech neck”, and are among the most worrisome for consumers. This condition occurs in various situations, and is characterized by a weakening of the skin foundation and the constriction of the muscles below skin. The skin of the neck is thinner than facial skin, making it more susceptible to signs of aging. But what are the factors that lead to this? Here are the main culprits: 

• Genetics and natural loss of skin elasticity with age 
• Significant weight loss 
• Sunlight exposure 
• Use of mobile devices, where we have a constant bending of the neck 

Both barcode wrinkles and horizontal neck wrinkles are modern-day skincare challenges. As relatively new concerns, developed from modern habits, consumers may be lacking information on the right solution for combating these aging signs.

To address these concerns, one ingredient truly stands out: Peptides have become a cornerstone of advanced anti-aging skincare formulations. These strings of amino acids are the first step to creating proteins, and are essential for elastin and collagen production in the skin. 

One particular peptide has proven to reveal powerful results when it comes to combating these 2 new wrinkle types – Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 with sequence Pal-KTTKS. This sequence has been newly found to have potent efficacy in improving skin firmness¹ and reducing the aforementioned two types of habitual action wrinkles. It works by stimulating the production of key extracellular matrix proteins, particularly collagen, and improving skin texture through its ability to penetrate deeply, bind to skin receptors, and interact with various cell signaling pathways, regulating the production of proteins and enzymes involved in skin renewal.

A Groundbreaking Peptide Sequence for Youthful Skin

Corum is pioneering the growing demand for targeted anti-wrinkle treatments and conducted a new experiment in 2024, with the goal of evaluating the efficacy of Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 in addressing barcode and tech-neck wrinkles².

How was this study conducted? 

Participants were carefully selected, ensuring they followed strict inclusion criteria. They were required to have visible wrinkles in the targeted areas, while also being free from skin conditions or recent cosmetic treatments that could interfere with results. Those who had undergone exfoliation, peeling or other anti-aging treatments within a specific timeframe were also excluded. The final testing group encompassed 43 Caucasian female volunteers aged 50-70 (mean age 62), all exhibiting visible wrinkles in the neck and lip contour areas.

Participants were instructed to apply a Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 cream or a placebo cream twice daily over a 56-day period, with assessments conducted at D0, D28, and D56. The use of 3D face acquisition technologies for horizontal neck lines and barcode wrinkles allowed precise measurements to evaluate skin texture improvements. Additionally, collagen content was assessed to determine the extent of structural improvement in the skin.

To ensure comprehensive evaluation, three primary wrinkle parameters were analyzed. Max wrinkle depth refers to the vertical distance between the deepest point of the wrinkle and the surrounding skin surface, typically measured in micrometers (µm) or millimeters (mm), serving as a key indicator of wrinkle severity. Volume represents the total volume of the wrinkle, calculated using 3D imaging or skin topography measurements, offering a broader assessment beyond depth alone. Lastly, circumference measures the total length of the wrinkle’s boundary, providing insight into its shape and overall skin condition.

This in-depth study, using 3D imaging, yielded promising results. For both tech-neck lines and barcode wrinkles, the application of Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 cream led to a significant decrease in just 28 days, and continued to improve until the end of the study. Conversely, the placebo cream experienced inconsistent results, illustrating the variability of untreated skin conditions. The erratic placebo results further reinforced the effectiveness of Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 in reducing wrinkles and improving skin texture.

In addition to wrinkle reduction, the study also assessed changes in collagen index, an important indicator of skin structure and firmness. The results showed a potent ability on Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 group to enhance collagen synthesis over time^3. In contrast, the placebo group experienced a constant decline in collagen index over time, highlighting the protective and rejuvenating effects of the active peptide formulation. 

A New Era of Anti-Aging Innovation with Corum 

By exploring and harnessing the power of Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Corum Inc. brings a new frontier for peptide skincare, opening a gate for consumers seeking effective treatments for neck lines and barcode wrinkles. With strong clinical results, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 is proven to enhance the firmness of the neck skin, and to restore volume and smooth out the skin in the lip contour area, making it an excellent candidate for these new types of anti-wrinkle challenges. 

Through this study, Corum created brand new ingredients called Quintup™ MB and Quintup^TM CC-MB - which stimulate the production of type I and type IV collagen. 

It works for treating not just traditional signs of aging, but also specific skin concerns which often arise from habitual movements, facial expressions and skin laxity. The peptide promotes skin tightening, which is especially beneficial in delicate areas where skin is thinner and more prone to wrinkling. 

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 can even be applied to more than just skincare, allowing for high-end anti-aging body care products for specialized areas. Among these, signaling peptides have proven to play a crucial role in stimulating the production of essential extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins - most importantly, collagen. These peptides enhance and strengthen cellular signaling pathways, effectively supporting skin regeneration and firmness. For the body, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 can be incorporated into lotions, serums, or body oils to promote skin firmness and elasticity across larger areas, and overall improvements in skin health.

The Future of Peptides in Skincare: What’s coming next? 

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 is poised to be at the forefront of a new generation of anti-aging skincare, with its proven ability to stimulate collagen production and improve skin texture. By extending its use to treat specific concerns such as lip contour barcode wrinkles, neck lines, and expanding its application to high-end body care products, this peptide represents a versatile and powerful tool in the fight against aging.

As consumers demand more advanced and effective solutions for aging, products containing Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 could become a staple ingredient in high-performance to bridge the gap between consumer's needs and scientifically validated solutions. 

Interested in learning more about Corum’s Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 products? Click here and request your sample today!

Are you attending in-cosmetics Global? Visit Corum at stand 1D60!

References

1. Abu Samah NH, Heard CM. Topically applied KTTKS: a review. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2011 Dec;33(6):483-90. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2494.2011.00657.x. Epub 2011 May 3. PMID: 21535443. 
2. Evaluation of the anti-ageing and anti-wrinkles activity of a product versus placebo on two panels of volunteers. Bio-EC Laboratoire, France. December 2024