Sh-Polypeptide-1

Sh-Polypeptide-1 is a recombinant human epidermal growth factor–type polypeptide used at very low levels (typically ppm-range) for skin-conditioning/anti-aging, and it is not pH-dependent or intrinsically exfoliating. In available cosmetic use, peptides like this show low rates of stinging/irritant patch-test reactions, with irritation more often driven by the formula’s preservatives/solvents rather than the peptide itself. Because it is a bioactive protein and compromised eczema skin can react unpredictably, I score it as very gentle rather than exceptionally gentle from a safety-first perspective. Safety Notes: Sh-Polypeptide-1 (commonly used as a recombinant “EGF”-type skin-conditioning peptide) is typically dosed extremely low in consumer leave-on serums and creams because activity is claimed at ppm-to-sub-ppm levels and higher loads raise cost and formulation challenges. At the low end, it appears in broad-market moisturizers/serums as part of multi-peptide blends where the finished-product level can be around 0.000001–0.0001%. At the high end, specialty “EGF” serums sold OTC can reach ~0.001–0.01% in the finished formula; rinse-off use exists but is uncommon and generally kept at the lower portion of the range due to short contact time.