Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
/ Synthetic acetylated tetrapeptide; INCI 'Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9'; dermal density cosmetic peptideALIAS · Dermican (trade) · Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9 (INCI)
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Tier 4 cosmeceutical. INCI catalog peptide marketed under the Dermican trade name; mechanism positioning centres on lumican expression and dermal-density restoration. PubMed-indexed primary literature is essentially limited to supplier-affiliated material.
The supplier-stated mechanism is upregulation of lumican, a small leucine-rich proteoglycan involved in collagen fibril organisation in the dermal extracellular matrix. The biological rationale is that lumican expression declines with chronological skin aging and that restoration of lumican supports collagen fibrillogenesis. Whether topical application of an acetylated tetrapeptide engages lumican expression in intact human dermis to a clinically meaningful degree has not been independently established.
None substantive in the indexed primary literature beyond supplier-affiliated reports. Supplier white papers describe in-vitro fibroblast lumican-expression upregulation and small-panel topical observations.
No formal human safety database in indexed literature. Topical cosmetic application is generally well tolerated.
Regulatory status
- FDA status:
- Not FDA-approved
As with other dermal-density INCI peptides (Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Hexapeptide-11), the mechanism narrative is ECM-component-restoration framed but the published evidence base is supplier-internal. Independent peer-reviewed pharmacology in human skin is the principal gap.