Peptide Cream: Is It Effective for Muscle Growth?

Peptides have become a popular choice among bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts as a possibly safer and more natural way to boost muscle mass and reduce recovery time. 

While they are typically administered as orals and injectables, peptide creams are now gaining attention as a more convenient alternative way of using therapeutic peptides.

But can a peptide cream deliver the same muscle-building benefits as normal peptides, let alone known anabolic agents such as steroids and human growth hormone?

In this article, we’ll explore the concept of a peptide muscle growth cream and if it is viable enough to help you build a more muscular physique.

What is Peptide Cream?

A peptide cream is a topical product infused with peptides, which are short chains of amino acids naturally found in the body.

These compounds are the building blocks of proteins our bodies need for various functions, including wound healing, reducing inflammation, and increasing muscle growth/repair. 

In the context of the latter benefit, a peptide cream would be applied directly onto the skin and the end result would be increased skeletal mass.

NOTE: This would ONLY work alongside resistance training and proper nutrition… even then, the cream would have to result in a reproducible increase in muscle mass that would not otherwise seen with dieting and weightlifting alone. 

How Would Peptide Creams Work for Muscle Gain?

When you apply peptide cream, the peptides get absorbed through the skin and would target the muscle tissue directly.

Here are some of the ways an effective peptide cream can theoretically help any bodybuilder and/or biohacker in their muscle growth journey.

Accelerated Muscle Recovery

Peptides are well-known for accelerating healing and injury recovery time, so it’s not entirely out of the question for a peptide cream to offer the same biological outcome. 

As we’ve already seen in the past, the regenerative properties of peptides can speed up your recovery from joint pain, strained muscles, and injury to the ligaments. 

Pain Relief and Inflammation Reduction

Chronic pain can often result from excessive/prolonged inflammation that interferes with the body’s healing process. 

Since peptides are already highly effective for pain management due to their anti-inflammatory properties (i.e. reduction of swelling and ultimately relief from pain), there’s no reason why peptide creams would be ineffective here.

Enhanced Collagen Production

As you get older, maintaining your natural collagen levels becomes more of an uphill battle. 

This makes peptides an excellent choice for men over 50 who want to maintain their peak fitness and vitality.

Select peptides like GHK-Cu enhance your collagen production, helping you build and repair muscle tissue at a rate comparable to when you were in your physical prime (think your teens, your 20s and your early 30s).

We’ve already seen peptide creams successfully increase the production of collagen, so consider this box checked off!

Improved Muscle Endurance

Peptides for muscular endurance can enhance your performance by boosting your cardiovascular stamina and  aerobic strength.

This is made possible via increasing your body’s production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the biomolecule that fuels muscle energy during exercise. 

With higher ATP levels, you can train at a higher intensity and for far longer. 

Increased Protein Synthesis

Protein synthesis is the process by which the body creates the proteins needed to repair and build new muscle tissue. 

As of right now, I AM telling you there is no peptide cream in existence that can reliably boost protein synthesis (and therefore increase muscle mass).

“Never say never” as the old saying goes… but until you hear something directly from me, you will not be able to ‘rub’  your way towards muscular hypertrophy.

Is There Scientific Evidence Supporting Peptide Creams for Muscle Health?

MUCH MORE research is needed on the use of peptide creams for meaningful muscle gain,

However, there are a few studies showing the concept of a peptide cream might be useful for muscle growth and repair. 

A study published in Nutrients found that men who combined collagen peptide with resistance exercise training (RET) experienced significant improvement in the protein composition of their skeletal muscles.

They also increased their body mass and muscle strength more than when they did resistance exercise training alone:

Twenty-five young men (age: 24.2 ± 2.6 years, body mass (BM): 79.6 ± 5.6 kg, height: 185.0 ± 5.0 cm, fat mass (FM): 11.5% ± 3.4%) completed body composition and strength measurements and vastus lateralis biopsies were taken before and after a 12-week training intervention. 

In a double-blind, randomized design, subjects consumed either 15 g of specific collagen peptides (COL) or a non-caloric placebo (PLA) every day within 60 min after their training session. 

A full-body hypertrophy workout was completed three times per week and included four exercises using barbells. 

Muscle proteome analysis was performed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). 

BM and FFM increased significantly in COL compared with PLA, whereas no differences in FM were detected between the two groups. 

Both groups improved in strength levels, with a slightly higher increase in COL compared with PLA. 

In COL, 221 higher abundant proteins were identified. 

In contrast, only 44 proteins were of higher abundance in PLA. 

In contrast to PLA, the upregulated proteins in COL were mostly associated with the protein metabolism of the contractile fibers. 

In conclusion, the use of RET in combination with collagen peptide supplementation results in a more pronounced increase in BM, FFM, and muscle strength than RET alone. 

More proteins were upregulated in the COL intervention most of which were associated with contractile fibers.

HOWEVER, keep in mind these trained subjects were consuming 15 grams of a collagen supplement daily in the form of a powder dissolved in water.

I doubt we currently have the biotechnology available to jam that much collagen into a single finger-sized application of a “muscle-building peptide cream.”

Another study published in Frontiers in Nutrition reported that combining pea peptide supplementation with resistance exercise led to increased muscle thickness, improved upper limb grip strength, larger muscle fiber cross-sectional area, and greater wet weight of the biceps brachii in rats after just 8 weeks:

In this study, male rats were orally administered 0.4 g/kg body weight of pea peptide combined with 8 weeks of moderate-intensity resistance exercise training. 

After treatment, the body gains, upper limb grip, muscle thickness, and wet weight of biceps brachii were tested, and the cross-sectional area of biceps brachii muscle fiber and the types of muscle fibers were determined by HE staining, immunofluorescence staining, and lactate dehydrogenase activity, respectively. 

Western blot analysis was used to investigate the level of growth-signaling pathway-related proteins. 

The results showed that pea peptide supplementation combined with resistance exercise training significantly increased body weight, upper limb grip, muscle thickness, wet weight of biceps brachii, and cross-sectional area of muscle fiber. 

Meanwhile, pea peptide supplementation obviously elevated the ratio of fast-twitch fiber (type II) and the expression of muscle growth-signaling pathway-related proteins. 

In addition, the PP2 oligopeptide in pea peptide with the amino acid sequence of LDLPVL induced a more significant promotion on C2C12 cell growth than other oligopeptides.

Promising, but nowhere near enough for any reasonable scientist or exercise professional to definitively say a peptide cream can effectively support muscle gain. 

Comparing Peptide Creams to Other Forms of Peptides for Muscle Growth

Peptides help with muscle growth and bodybuilding, but their function and effectiveness may vary depending on their form.

You can refer to the table below to understand the differences between peptide creams and oral/injectable peptides.

Aspect	Peptide Creams	Oral/Injectable Peptides
Application	Topically absorbed through the skin	Ingested or injected, absorbed into the bloodstream
Function	Supports muscle growth by promoting protein production locally	Directly stimulates muscle growth systemically
Effectiveness	Indirect support, depends on skin absorption	Direct and often more potent effects

In conclusion, the potential is there but much is left to be proven in both the rigorous studies and real-world testing from people who aren’t trying to scam you out of a buck.

It’s far too early to say that “peptide muscle growth creams” can be as effective as oral or injectable peptides in supporting muscle growth.

Is There Such A Thing As The “Best Peptide Cream for Muscle Building”?

Let me be extremely clear: As of right now, there is NO SUCH THING as a proven peptide cream for building muscle.

Why?

As I’ve outlined in my past articles about PEG-MGF and IGF-1 LR3 peptides, and my analysis of the CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin stack…

… there are NO PEPTIDES currently in existence that reliably maximize muscular hypertrophy (yet).

Anybody who is dead serious about optimizing gains in skeletal muscle mass should be focused on the following:

• Testosterone and HGH
• Anabolic steroids used safely at low doses
• A caloric surplus
• Progressive overload combined with training to positive muscular failure
• Ample deep sleep every single night
• Adequate recovery between training sessions

There’s a very long way to go before we can put “peptides” and “muscle growth” in the same sentence together.

First, bodybuilders and scientists have to work together in ascertaining which peptide(s) are even comparable to already-known anabolic agents.

Second, the optimal dosing and administration methods would have to be determined for said peptide(s).

Third, and only THEN, can you have a discussion about formulating a topical solution for increasing hypertrophy.

All of this is to say we are far away from achieving what would best be described as a bodybuilder’s fantasy come true.

BUT… I will say there are already two effective peptide creams in existence for the fully optimized among us.

The first peptide cream receiving the Jay Campbell endorsement would be Regenovive. 

What makes it special is its advanced formulation using peptide bioregulator technology.

This technology boosts the body’s innate healing abilities to accelerate soft tissue regeneration and repair.

With its potent peptide bioregulators, it stimulates cellular activity at the molecular level and targets damaged tissue.

Where Regenovive MIGHT be useful in a muscle-building context is faster recovery from injuries such as aches, sprains, strains, and even performance and age-related muscle pain.

In this sense, you spend more time in the gym and less time out of the gym due to an injury.

Which allows you to consistently train at a higher frequency and intensity.

The second peptide cream receiving the Jay Campbell endorsement would be RegenoBurn.

This is a topical thermo-sculpting solution specifically designed to accelerate spot-specific stubborn body fat removal and improve muscle definition in ALREADY-LEAN INDIVIDUALS.

Like Regenovive, it is also powered by powerful peptide bioregulator technology.

Some observed effects include reduced fluid retention, increased heat production for a greater caloric burn, and improved skin firmness.

However, unlike Regenovive, Regenoburn is not for everybody.

People with a high body fat percentage who are insulin-resistant, untrained, and not already following habits conducive to a fully optimized lifestyle need not apply (pun intended).

To conclude: There ARE effective peptide creams already in existence for aiding in injury healing, and helping with spot removal of stubborn body fat in “trouble areas”, while enhancing your skin health… but none for increasing muscular hypertrophy.

Potential Side Effects and Precautions

A peptide cream designed for muscle growth would most likely be safe to use, but theoretically, users may experience side effects such as: 

• Skin irritation
• Redness
• Breakouts

Therefore, it is always a good idea to perform a patch test first before applying any kind of peptide cream on larger and/or more sensitive areas.

If you’re considering using peptide creams but have concerns about potential side effects, consult your doctor before use, as they can offer personalized advice based on your needs and local regulations.

And when the day comes where a peptide cream for muscle growth exists: It is a SUPPLEMENT to a muscle-building program and not a replacement for the fundamentals mentioned previously in this article.

Closing Thoughts

Peptide creams for muscle growth and repair are currently a pipe dream, but that’s not to say this will always be the case in our lifetimes. 

Until then, stick with what has been proven to work for the past 100 years: Intense resistance training, eating an insulin-controlled diet while maintaining a caloric surplus, and getting sufficient rest and recovery.

And when the day comes for a “RegenoBurn” or “Regenovive” for muscle hypertrophy, yours truly will be shouting about it from the rooftops.

But regardless of the decision you make after reading this article, don’t just get your peptides from the first vendor you find.

You can find high-quality, safe-to-use, and effective peptides from reliable sources like Limitless Biotech.

They have the best formulations of experimental compounds available, and no other vendor comes close to offering them at ultra-high levels of purity for reasonable prices.

Use code JAY15 to get 15% off your order of NON-VIP peptides and 5% off VIP peptides

But even if you aren’t ready to jump on the peptides bandwagon just yet…

Make sure you read the Top 10 Mistakes People Make When Starting Therapeutic Peptides FREE PDF before you place a single order!

Seriously, this short e-book will save you a lot of wasted money and poorly spent time (not to mention preventing you from potential self-inflicted missteps).

And the emails I’ll send you after downloading the book contain EXCLUSIVE 20% OFF discount codes code for all my amazing courses on using therapeutic peptides, such as:

Peptides Demystified (THE #1 course for newbies when learning to use peptides)

The Modern Woman’s Peptide Course (A course made by women for women on using therapeutic peptides)

The Ultimate GLP-1 Video Masterclass (Learn how to use GLP-1 peptides to live leaner, longer & stronger)

Raise Your Vibration To Optimize Your Love Creation!

 

PS — Are you looking to biohack your best life through the smart use of therapeutic peptides and other Golden Age agents?

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See you on the other side!