PTD-DBM
A topical cell-penetrating peptide that inhibits CXXC5 to reactivate Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in hair follicles, often paired with microneedling for androgenetic alopecia and hair thinning; evidence is currently limited to mouse studies.
Hair GrowthPTD-DBM is applied to the skin — it is not reconstituted or drawn on a syringe.
Topical · topical
Follow the product's own directions for how it's applied. This is educational information, not medical advice.
A starting reference, not medical advice — see how we source this.
- Half-life
- Not established
- Route
- Topical
- Storage
- Once mixed into a carrier/topical solution, keep refrigerated at 2-8°C (36-46°F) and protect from light. (~28 days)
- Citations
- 2 referenced
US regulatory status
Not approved by the FDA for human use; used as a topical research peptide.
What is PTD-DBM?
PTD-DBM is a topical cell-penetrating peptide studied in the context of androgenetic alopecia and hair thinning, often in combination with microneedling. It is applied to the skin and works locally at the application site rather than systemically, and its reported evidence is currently limited to mouse studies.
How PTD-DBM works
PTD-DBM is a cell-penetrating peptide that inhibits CXXC5, a negative regulator of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, by disrupting the CXXC5-Dishevelled interaction. This reactivates Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in hair follicles, promoting the anagen (growth) phase and increasing follicle size. Effects are localized to the site of topical application; it is not a systemic peptide.
What the research says
Research has examined how PTD-DBM inhibits CXXC5, a negative regulator of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, by disrupting the CXXC5-Dishevelled interaction. Studies describe this as reactivating Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in hair follicles in the context of the hair growth phase, with reviews covering Wnt/beta-catenin approaches to hair research more broadly. The reported effects are localized to the site of topical application.
Evidence limitations
The available evidence is limited to mouse models, and human clinical data are lacking.
Safety & use boundary
PTD-DBM is a topical research peptide and is not approved for human use. This information is educational and is not medical advice.
How to reconstitute PTD-DBM
New to this? Here's the whole process, start to finish. Educational only — not medical advice.
What you'll need
- The PTD-DBM vial or prepared solution
- A clean, dry area of skin to apply it to
Reading your dose
PTD-DBM is applied to the skin as a topical, not injected — there's no syringe draw. If it ships as a powder, it's prepared into a topical solution rather than drawn into a syringe. Follow the product's own directions for how it's applied.
Storing it
Store lyophilized/powder formulation in the freezer for long-term storage (1+ year); short-term storage in the refrigerator (2-8°C) is acceptable. Protect from light and moisture. Keep it closed and away from heat and light.
Common first-timer mistakes
Shaking the vial to mix it
Swirl it gently or just let it sit. Shaking can damage delicate peptides — you want the powder to dissolve, not foam.
Using tap water or plain sterile water
Use bacteriostatic water. Plain sterile water has no preservative, so a mixed vial spoils in a day or two instead of lasting weeks.
Leaving a mixed vial on the counter
Keep reconstituted vials in the fridge. Heat and light break the peptide down faster.
Eyeballing the dose instead of measuring
Use the calculator and draw to the exact unit mark on the syringe. Guessing a tiny volume is where most measuring errors happen.
Reusing needles
Use a fresh syringe each time. A used needle is duller, hurts more, and is no longer sterile.
Mixing up mg and mcg
1 mg = 1000 mcg. The calculator keeps them straight so you don't have to — just enter your dose in the unit it asks for.
Words you'll see
- Reconstitution
- Mixing a freeze-dried peptide powder with liquid (bacteriostatic water) so it can be drawn into a syringe.
- Bacteriostatic water
- Sterile water with a tiny amount of benzyl alcohol that stops bacteria growing, so a mixed vial keeps for weeks. Not the same as plain sterile water.
- U-100 insulin syringe
- A small syringe marked in “units,” where 100 units = 1 mL. Peptide draws are measured in these units.
- Subcutaneous (SubQ)
- An injection into the fatty layer just under the skin, rather than into muscle or a vein.
- mcg vs mg
- 1 mg = 1000 mcg. Doses are often written in micrograms (mcg); the calculator handles the conversion for you.
- Lyophilized
- Freeze-dried. The powder in the vial is the peptide with its water removed so it stays stable on the shelf.
- Half-life
- Roughly how long it takes your body to clear half of a dose — a rough sense of how long it stays active.
Common questions
What is PTD-DBM?
A topical cell-penetrating peptide that inhibits CXXC5 to reactivate Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in hair follicles, often paired with microneedling for androgenetic alopecia and hair thinning; evidence is currently limited to mouse studies. PTD-DBM is a cell-penetrating peptide that inhibits CXXC5, a negative regulator of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, by disrupting the CXXC5-Dishevelled interaction. This reactivates Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in hair follicles, promoting the anagen (growth) phase and increasing follicle size. Effects are localized to the site of topical application; it is not a systemic peptide.
How is PTD-DBM applied?
PTD-DBM is a topical — it is applied to the skin, not reconstituted into a syringe or injected. Follow the product's own directions; this is educational information, not medical advice.
How should PTD-DBM be stored?
Store lyophilized/powder formulation in the freezer for long-term storage (1+ year); short-term storage in the refrigerator (2-8°C) is acceptable. Protect from light and moisture. Once reconstituted: Once mixed into a carrier/topical solution, keep refrigerated at 2-8°C (36-46°F) and protect from light. (about 28 days). This is general storage information, not medical advice.
Keep your protocol, doses, and vials in one place.
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