Also calledEpidermal Growth Factor · EGF · rhEGF · Recombinant Human Epidermal Growth Factor
Early-stage page
This ingredient page is still early. We're actively researching before it's ready to stand fully on its own — check back as more sections are verified.
The short answer
Four lines, each compressed from the section it links to. Every line carries the sources of the claim it compresses.
What it does
Wound Healing and Epithelial Repair (Dermatological, Not Routine Cosmetic Use)
Everything the record says about suitability, consolidated. Pause-first comes first.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Not medical advice · ask your own clinician
Pregnancy.A 2011 dermatology review of skin-care product safety in pregnancy names hydroquinone (high systemic absorption) and tretinoin (evidence controversial) as the actives of concern, and states that most other topical skin-care products act locally and produce minimal systemic absorption; recombinant EGF is not named among the flagged concerns 5. This is general topical-product reasoning rather than an ingredient-specific safety trial. If you are pregnant, ask your doctor before use.
Breastfeeding.Topical application is applied locally with minimal expected systemic absorption; no ingredient-specific breastfeeding safety trial was located. As a general precaution common to topical actives, avoid applying directly to the breast or nipple area, since incidental transfer to a nursing infant has not been studied for this ingredient. If you are breastfeeding, ask your doctor before use.
sh-Oligopeptide-1's relatively high molecular weight limits passive penetration through an intact stratum corneum, so delivery technology (encapsulation, micro-spicules) affects how much reaches viable skin layers.
No admissible source in this cycle establishes recombinant EGF's own effect on dermal elastin or extracellular-matrix density outside a wound-healing or delivery-technology-specific context -- the packet's own citation for a general elastin/matrix claim turned out to test an unrelated antioxidant-and-hyaluronic-acid serum's effect on endogenous EGF-marker gene expression, not applied EGF itself (see gaps).
An independent 2023 review found no proof that cosmetic-grade sh-Oligopeptide-1 is bioequivalent to genuine recombinant human EGF, and noted its long-term topical safety in cosmetic use is not established.
The evidence
One card per claim. Concentration, form, population and limitation sit with it, always visible.
Grade legend
Indicative
Limited
Moderate
Strong
Wound Healing and Epithelial Repair (Dermatological, Not Routine Cosmetic Use)
Indicative
A 2022 literature review reports that topical recombinant human EGF (rhEGF) has been studied for wound healing, radiotherapy- or chemotherapy-related skin reactions, atopic dermatitis, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation -- in wound-care and dermatological contexts, not routine cosmetic anti-aging use.1
Which form
Recombinant Human EGF (sh-Oligopeptide-1)
Population and duration
Literature review of published rhEGF wound-healing and dermatological-condition studies
Limitation
This review's own scope is wound healing and specific dermatological conditions, not routine cosmetic anti-aging use; it does not confirm a specific EGFR/MAPK/Akt signaling cascade for cosmetic-strength topical application.
Micro-Spicule Delivery Increases Effect Versus EGF Alone (Periocular Wrinkles)
Indicative
A small randomized, controlled, split-face trial (n=20) found that a micro-spicule-delivered EGF formulation increased dermal depth and density and reduced periocular wrinkle severity significantly more than EGF alone, over 4 to 8 weeks.2
Which form
Micro-Spicule Conjugated EGF (MS-EGF)
Population and duration
20 healthy volunteers aged 33 to 54; 4 weeks of daily treatment, 8 weeks of follow-up
Limitation
Small single trial (n=20); compares two EGF delivery methods against each other, not against a no-EGF or placebo control, so it establishes that micro-spicule delivery outperforms EGF-alone application -- not that EGF itself outperforms no treatment.
○Open
The packet's own citation for an elastin/extracellular-matrix regeneration claim (its claimed title added the words "Growth Factors and" to the real paper's own title, "In Vitro, Ex Vivo, Instrumental, and Clinical Assessment of a Novel Anti-aging Serum Targeting Oxidative Stress") is a real, correctly-dated study -- but on independent check it tests an antioxidant-and-hyaluronic-acid serum's effect on endogenous HB-EGF gene expression as a biomarker, not applied recombinant EGF or sh-Oligopeptide-1 itself.
○Open
No PubMed-resolvable citation was found this cycle for the packet's claimed South Korea MFDS concentration cap on sh-Oligopeptide-1 -- the packet's own source URL is a generic regulation-listing board page, not the specific gazette notice, confirmed by direct fetch.
○Open
The packet's identity also lists "sh-Oligopeptide-2 (IGF-1)" and "sh-Polypeptide-1 (bFGF)" as other growth factors under this same class handle, but every citation in the packet discusses EGF specifically -- none independently sources FGF or IGF-1.
The clinical recordHow it works · Forms · Manufacturing · Regulations · Study ledger · Gaps · Sources+
How it works
EGFR-Mediated Keratinocyte/Fibroblast Signaling
Reported to regulate cell survival, proliferation, migration and differentiation via cell-surface EGFR binding, part of normal wound-healing physiology.
What that rests on: clinical literature review
Reading the label
Compare the forms
Attribute
Recombinant Human EGF (sh-Oligopeptide-1)
Micro-Spicule Conjugated EGF (MS-EGF)
What it is
Not recorded
A delivery-technology variant studied against plain EGF, not a separate active ingredient.
Official INCI
sh-Oligopeptide-1
sh-Oligopeptide-1
Where it comes from
Biotechnology / recombinant bacterial or yeast fermentation (E. coli or Pichia pastoris)
Dissolving marine micro-spicules coated with recombinant EGF
How it is made
Recombinant fermentation followed by chromatographic purification and lyophilization.
Not recorded
How it is actually made
Produced via recombinant bacterial or yeast fermentation (E. coli or Pichia pastoris), followed by chromatographic purification and lyophilization into a stable powder.
What the evidence rests on
Study records
Literature review (PubMed/Medline and Google Scholar search)2022
Summarizes reported effects of rhEGF in the treatment of various wound types, radiotherapy- or chemotherapy-related skin reactions, atopic dermatitis, skin aging, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation -- a wound-care and dermatological-conditions focus, not routine cosmetic use.
Where it falls shortReview-level evidence; the number of dedicated clinical studies on rhEGF beyond wound healing remains low, per the review's own stated scope.
MS-EGF significantly increased dermal depth and density and reduced periocular wrinkle severity compared with EGF alone, over 4 and 8 weeks; well tolerated with no significant side effects.
Where it falls shortSmall trial (20 volunteers); compares two EGF delivery methods against each other, not against a no-EGF or placebo control.
Reviews evidence that growth-factor- and cytokine-containing cosmetic products promote collagen synthesis and skin rejuvenation, covering the product class broadly rather than EGF/sh-Oligopeptide-1 specifically.
Where it falls shortReview-level evidence across a product class; two named authors are employed by Merz Pharmaceuticals, a cosmetic-ingredient manufacturer.
Found no proof that sh-oligopeptide-1's preclinical bioactivity as a genuine EGF-bioequivalent has been established; states genuine active EGF is an unauthorised drug rather than a cosmetic ingredient, while sh-oligopeptide-1 is authorised as a cosmetic at various concentrations with unknown long-term risk.
Where it falls shortA single author's critical review; does not itself test a specific product or formulation.
Names hydroquinone and tretinoin as actives of concern; states most other topical products act locally with minimal systemic absorption. Does not analyze EGF specifically.
Where it falls shortGeneral topical-product reasoning, not an ingredient-specific safety trial.
What is still missing
The packet's own citation for an elastin/extracellular-matrix regeneration claim (its claimed title added the words "Growth Factors and" to the real paper's own title, "In Vitro, Ex Vivo, Instrumental, and Clinical Assessment of a Novel Anti-aging Serum Targeting Oxidative Stress") is a real, correctly-dated study -- but on independent check it tests an antioxidant-and-hyaluronic-acid serum's effect on endogenous HB-EGF gene expression as a biomarker, not applied recombinant EGF or sh-Oligopeptide-1 itself.
No elastin, extracellular-matrix, or collagen-density claim is made for topical EGF/sh-Oligopeptide-1 on this record -- the claim that depended on this source is dropped entirely rather than corrected, since the source tests a different active-ingredient combination.
NeedsA genuine clinical or ex-vivo study of topically applied recombinant EGF's own effect on dermal elastin or collagen density, independent of endogenous EGF-marker gene expression.
No PubMed-resolvable citation was found this cycle for the packet's claimed South Korea MFDS concentration cap on sh-Oligopeptide-1 -- the packet's own source URL is a generic regulation-listing board page, not the specific gazette notice, confirmed by direct fetch.
No jurisdiction-specific regulatory concentration limit is stated on this record. The cap is echoed by secondary industry sources (ingredient supplier listings) but was not resolved to a primary, citable regulatory document this cycle.
NeedsThe specific MFDS notice number or gazette citation establishing a cosmetic concentration cap for sh-Oligopeptide-1.
The packet's identity also lists "sh-Oligopeptide-2 (IGF-1)" and "sh-Polypeptide-1 (bFGF)" as other growth factors under this same class handle, but every citation in the packet discusses EGF specifically -- none independently sources FGF or IGF-1.
This record covers EGF only, not the broader growth-factor class its own route name implies; FGF and IGF-1 appear as neither an alias nor a form.
NeedsIndependently sourced claims for FGF and/or IGF-1 specifically, if this class handle is meant to expand beyond EGF.