Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) for Skin: Studies | Dose Track
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Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF): what it is, studies and status

Concentrations studied · Approval status · Half-life notes

What is EGF?

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a small protein the body makes that helps skin and other surface cells grow and mature. Lab-made human EGF is used in serums and creams marketed for skin aging. Evidence for these products comes mostly from small trials of specific formulas.

Also known as: EGF, rhEGF, recombinant human EGF, oligopeptide-1.

Concentrations studied

There is no standard strength, and the EGF studies below do not give a concentration in the abstract. Products in a 2023 review were usually applied twice a day for about 3 months. That is a study protocol, not a recommendation.

Approval status and how it is used

Skin-care peptides are sold as cosmetic ingredients. FDA does not approve cosmetics before they go on the market. FDA says a product that only moisturizes so lines look less noticeable is a cosmetic, but a product intended to remove wrinkles or increase the skin's production of collagen is a drug or a medical device, even if it is sold as a cosmetic.

A 2023 systematic review (Quinlan) found 33 studies of growth factor creams and serums for facial aging in 1,180 people, but only 9 were randomized trials and only 9 used a placebo or another product for comparison. Doctors rated modest gains from where people started: texture under 50%, fine lines under 35% and overall look under 20% (median). Side effects were uncommon. The products differed widely in which growth factors and other ingredients they had, and whether results last beyond 6 months is not known.

EGF-specific trials are small. In a 12-week pilot of 20 women (Abud 2026), a lab-made EGF serum scored better on texture and firmness than a serum with human-derived growth factors, while wrinkle scores barely changed in either group. In 20 adults (Ha 2017, co-authored by a biotech company), EGF in dissolving micro-spicules improved skin depth and density more than an EGF cream. In a 6-week split-face trial of 20 Korean adults with acne (Kim 2014), EGF cream cut inflamed spots by 33.5% and other spots by 25.4%, while spots on the plain-cream side increased, with no severe side effects.

EGF half-life and time to peak

  • Half-lifeNot listed
  • Time to peak (Tmax)Not listed

We could not find a published half-life or time to peak for EGF used on the skin. It is applied to the skin, and the studies we found measured the skin, not levels in the blood, so we do not list one.

How to track EGF in Dose Track

  1. Add EGF as a custom compound. Start typing its name and Dose Track fills in the details from its research library for you to check, and it sits next to everything else you take.
  2. Log each application when you put it on, so your history shows exactly what you used and when.
  3. Set reminders on your own schedule, whether that is daily, weekly or every few days.
  4. Your log is stored on your phone and no account is needed. Data only leaves it for features you choose, like AI answers and lab reading.

How Dose Track handles peptides · Reconstitution calculator · Half-life calculator

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Frequently asked questions

What is the half-life of EGF?+
We could not find a published half-life or time to peak for EGF used on the skin. It is applied to the skin, and the studies we found measured the skin, not levels in the blood, so we do not list one.
Do EGF serums reduce wrinkles?+
The evidence is modest. A 2023 review of 33 growth factor studies found modest improvements in fine lines and texture, but most studies had no comparison group and products differed widely. A 2026 EGF pilot found wrinkle scores barely changed over 12 weeks.
Is an EGF serum a cosmetic or a drug?+
It depends on what it is sold to do. FDA does not approve cosmetics before sale, but it says products intended to change the skin's structure, such as removing wrinkles or increasing collagen, are drugs or medical devices, even if they are sold as cosmetics.
Can I track EGF in Dose Track?+
Yes. EGF is in Dose Track's research library, so when you add it as a custom compound its details are filled in for you to check. You can then log each application next to your other compounds, set reminders on your own schedule, and see your history next to your lab results. Your log is stored on your phone and no account is needed. Data only leaves it for features you choose, like AI answers and lab reading.

Sources

  1. NLM MeSH. Epidermal growth factor (descriptor).
  2. Quinlan DJ, et al. Topical growth factor preparations for facial skin rejuvenation: a systematic review. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2023;22(7):2023-2039.
  3. Abud B, et al. A randomized, double-blinded pilot study comparing synthetic versus human-derived topical epidermal growth factor for facial rejuvenation and psychosocial perception. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2026;25(5):e70927.
  4. Ha JM, et al. The effect of micro-spicule containing epidermal growth factor on periocular wrinkles. Ann Dermatol. 2017;29(2):187-193.
  5. Kim HK, et al. Topical epidermal growth factor for the improvement of acne lesions: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, split-face trial. Int J Dermatol. 2014;53(8):1031-1036.
  6. FDA. Wrinkle treatments and other anti-aging products (content current as of February 25, 2022).
  7. FDA. Is it a cosmetic, a drug, or both? (Or is it soap?) (content current as of September 11, 2024).

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