Pal-AHK vs Epithalon
Side-by-side comparison of key properties, dosing, and research.
- Summary
- Pal-AHK is the palmitoylated form of the AHK-Cu copper tripeptide, created by attaching a palmitic acid chain to enhance skin penetration and lipid bilayer affinity. The palmitoyl modification significantly improves dermal bioavailability compared to unmodified AHK, making it particularly effective in anti-aging and hair growth formulations.
- Epithalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide developed from the pineal gland extract Epithalamin by Russian scientist Dr. Vladimir Khavinson. It is one of the most researched longevity peptides, known for activating telomerase and extending telomere length — the molecular hallmarks of cellular aging.
- Half-Life
- Extended (lipid depot effect in stratum corneum)
- 2–4 hours
- Admin Route
- Topical
- SubQ, Sublingual
- Research
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- Typical Dose
- 0.01–0.05% in formulation
- 5–10 mg total per cycle
- Frequency
- Once or twice daily
- 0.5–1 mg daily
- Key Benefits
- Enhanced skin penetration vs. unmodified AHK-Cu
- Stimulates dermal collagen and elastin production
- Promotes hair follicle anagen phase
- Antioxidant and wound healing activity
- Firming and plumping effect on aging skin
- Improved bioavailability via lipid bilayer incorporation
- Activates telomerase enzyme, extending telomere length
- May slow cellular and biological aging
- Regulates melatonin production and circadian rhythms
- Improves sleep quality
- Powerful antioxidant properties
- May reduce incidence of age-related diseases
- Supports immune system function
- Studied for cancer prevention properties in animal models
- Side Effects
- Generally well-tolerated
- Mild irritation at high concentrations in sensitive skin
- Possible comedogenicity at very high palmitate concentrations (formulation-dependent)
- Injection site irritation (mild)
- Temporary sleep changes during cycle (usually improves)
- Rare: fatigue
- Stacks With
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