Peptides have the general formula X-(Xaa) n K * TFK * -(Xaa) m -Z. The
peptide serves to maintain or improve the condition of the epidermis. * is selected from
lysine (K),
ornithine, diaminobutyric acid or diaminopropionic acid, or hydroxylated derivatives thereof. n and (Xaa) m corresponds independently to a sequence of n or m amino acids Xaa selected independently from Gly, Ala, Pro, Val, Leu, Ile and Phe, where n and m are integers between 0 and 5, which may be equal or different. The N-terminal X is H, -CO-R 1 , -SO2-R 1 or a biotinoyl group. Z at the C-terminus is selected from OH, OR 1 , NH2, NHR 1 or NR 1 R 2 Selected from: R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from
alkyl,
aryl, aralkyl, alkylaryl, alkoxy,
sugar and aryloxy groups, which may be linear, branched, cyclic, polycyclic, unsaturated, hydroxylated, carbonylated, phosphorylated and / or sulfurized, said groups having from 1 to 24 carbon atoms and optionally containing O, S and / or N heteroatoms in their backbone. A preferred
peptide is
Pal-KTFK.