Skin · Dosing reference

SNAP-8 dosage

What the human evidence does and does not show, how long studies ran, and the arithmetic for working with vials.

Not approved — research use onlyNone established

Full research page Cycle-length evidence Compare Prefer Amiravo on Google

Regulatory status: Not approved — research use only
Human amounts: None established in humans
Route studied: —
Frequency: Not established
Half-life: Not established
Evidence grade: Not yet assessed
Vial sizes on the market: 10 mg
Other forms seen: —

What SNAP-8 is

An eight-amino-acid peptide that mimics part of the SNAP-25 protein, studied in research on SNARE complex dynamics.

SNAP-8 is the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients substance acetyl octapeptide-3, an eight-residue peptide with the sequence Ac-Glu-Glu-Met-Gln-Arg-Arg-Ala-Asp-NH2, molecular formula C41H70N16O16S and average mass about 1075 Da ^1. It is an elongation of the six-residue cosmetic peptide acetyl hexapeptide-8, marketed as Argireline, which is described in the dermatology literature as a topical… How it works →

Key evidence

Avcil et al., Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology · 2020 · Humans (healthy subjects with aged skin)
Fine lines and wrinkles decreased by a reported 25.8% and skin hydration increased; the patch contained acetyl octapeptide-3 together with four other actives, so no effect is attributable to the peptide. ²
Shin et al., Annals of Dermatology · 2024 · Humans (24 healthy subjects)
The multi-ingredient patch improved eye wrinkles relative to placebo; acetyl octapeptide-3 was one of three actives, so the peptide's individual contribution was not isolated. ³
Palmieri et al., Clinica Terapeutica · 2020 · Humans (26 patients with scars, skin tags and wrinkles)
A gel-cream containing 10% acetyl hexapeptide-8 was associated with improved instrumental skin quality parameters and self-image; this concerns the hexapeptide, not SNAP-8, and the design does not support causal inference. ⁴

All studies on the research page

What the human evidence shows

No approved or established human dose

We searched PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov and found no human studies that administered SNAP-8. The research described on its page is from cells or animals, and animal amounts do not translate to people.

How long did human studies run?

No human study durations are recorded for SNAP-8.

Cycle-length evidence for SNAP-8

SNAP-8 draw calculator

Pick the vial strength and the water added, enter an amount, and see the concentration, the units to draw and how many draws the vial holds. Arithmetic only.

1 · Vial strength

sizes on the market

2 · Water added

3 · Amount per draw

4 · Syringe

Your mix

10 mg + 2 mL water = 5 mg/mL

10 units holds 0.5 mg (500 mcg)

Draw toEnter an amount in step 3

U-100 syringe · 100 units = 1 mL

Computed from your inputs. Not a dose or a recommendation.

Compare water volumes for this vialShow

More water = lower concentration = a larger, easier-to-measure draw. Tap a row to use it.

Water	mg/mL	Draw
0.5 mL	20	—
1 mL	10	—
1.5 mL	6.667	—
2 mL	5	—
2.5 mL	4	—
3 mL	3.333	—
5 mL	2	—

Supplies and handling

Lyophilized vial
Sealed vial with the freeze-dried cake. Check the label, lot and the certificate of analysis before opening.
Sterile diluent
The diluent named on the product documentation. Bacteriostatic water contains benzyl alcohol; sterile water does not.
Graduated syringes
Sized to the volume being measured. U-100 insulin syringes are graduated in units where 100 units = 1 mL.
Alcohol prep pads
For wiping vial stoppers before each puncture.
Nitrile gloves
Clean gloves for aseptic handling.
Sharps container
Puncture-resistant container for used needles.

Step-by-step reconstitution guide Storage and transport accessories

Storage

General research-context handling only. Lyophilised peptides of this type are typically stored dry, cool and protected from light, moisture and oxidising conditions, with methionine-containing sequences particularly sensitive to oxidation; aqueous solutions are treated as short-lived. Finished cosmetic formulations follow the manufacturer's own stability data. Defer to supplier documentation for the specific lot. No temperatures, concentrations or preparation steps are given here.

Lyophilized (unmixed) vials: typically stored cold and dry, away from light, as the documentation directs. Many are stable longer frozen.
Reconstituted vials: typically refrigerated (about 2–8 °C), protected from light and not frozen.
Bacteriostatic water contains benzyl alcohol, which inhibits bacterial growth in multi-use vials; sterile water has no preservative.

Handling mistakes and troubleshooting

Added the wrong volume of diluent: The concentration changes, not the amount of compound in the vial. Recalculate with the volume actually added and relabel the vial.
Shook the vial and it foamed: Let it settle in the refrigerator. Foam is a sign of agitation; some peptides aggregate when shaken. Note it on the label.
The solution is cloudy or has particles: Do not use it. Cloudiness can indicate incomplete dissolution, contamination or degradation. Record the lot and contact the supplier with the certificate of analysis.
The powder cake looks melted or shrunken before reconstitution: This can indicate the vial was exposed to heat or moisture. Record the lot and condition on arrival.
Liquid sprayed back when the needle was removed: Pressure built up in the vial. Withdraw a small volume of air while adding diluent to keep pressure neutral.

Regulatory status

Status: SNAP-8 is a cosmetic ingredient, not an approved drug. There is no approved FDA drug application and no openFDA drug label listing acetyl octapeptide-3 as an active substance, and it does not appear in any of the three categories of FDA's 503A bulk drug substances list as updated May 14, 2026 ^6. No clinical trial of SNAP-8 as a single agent was identified in PubMed or on ClinicalTrials.gov; the two human studies found tested multi-ingredient microneedle patches in which acetyl octapeptide-3 was one of several actives, so no effect can be attributed to the peptide ^2,3,7.
United States (FDA): SNAP-8 is marketed as a cosmetic ingredient, not a drug. There is no approved FDA drug application and no openFDA drug label listing acetyl octapeptide-3 as an active substance, and the substance does not appear in any of the three categories of FDA's 503A bulk drug substances list as updated May 14, 2026 ^6. Cosmetic ingredients in the United States are not subject to premarket FDA approval, so absence from drug databases is expected and says nothing about efficacy.
Sport (WADA): Neither SNAP-8, acetyl octapeptide-3 nor acetyl hexapeptide-8 is named in the WADA 2026 Prohibited List, and the words acetyl, octapeptide and hexapeptide do not appear in it ^9. That is hedged negative evidence. The S0 Non-Approved Substances class provides that "Any pharmacological substance which is not addressed by any of the subsequent sections of the List and with no current approval by any governmental regulatory health authority for human therapeutic use (e.g. drugs under pre-clinical or clinical development or discontinued, designer drugs, substances approved only for veterinary use) is prohibited at all times", with examples given as "including but not limited to" ^9. Cosmetic status does not of itself place a substance outside the List, since the List is organised by substance rather than by product category. Athletes should seek a ruling from their anti-doping organisation.

Status varies by country and changes over time. How we describe regulatory status.

SNAP-8 compared with related compounds

Compound	Status	Evidence	Human amounts	Half-life
SNAP-8	Not approved — research use only	—	None established	—
Argireline	Not approved — research use only	B	None established	Not located in the sources reviewed. Rel
Afamelanotide	FDA-approved	A	FDA label	Approximately 15 hours (apparent, from t
Matrixyl	Not approved — research use only	B	None established	Not located in the sources reviewed. In
GHK-Cu	Not approved — research use only	B	None established	—
Melanotan I	Not approved — research use only	—	None established	—

Frequently asked questions

What doses of SNAP-8 have been studied in humans?

None that establish an amount. SNAP-8 is not approved anywhere and we found no human studies that administered it. Amiravo does not publish community or vendor figures.

Is there an established SNAP-8 cycle length?

No. We found no human studies that report treatment duration for SNAP-8.

How much bacteriostatic water should be added to a SNAP-8 vial?

There is no compound-specific volume. The diluent volume only sets the concentration: concentration = mass in the vial ÷ volume added (for example, 10 mg in 2 mL gives 5 mg/mL). The calculator on this page shows the arithmetic for any combination.

How many units is a given amount on an insulin syringe?

On a U-100 syringe, 100 units = 1 mL. Units for an amount = amount ÷ (concentration per unit). The calculator converts any amount you enter at the concentration you choose; a unit is a volume mark, not an amount of compound.

Is SNAP-8 FDA-approved?

Not approved — research use only. SNAP-8 is a cosmetic ingredient, not an approved drug. There is no approved FDA drug application and no openFDA drug label listing acetyl octapeptide-3 as an active substance, and it does not appear in any of the three categories of FDA's 503A bulk drug substances list as updated May 14, 2026 ^6. No clinical trial of SNAP-8 as a single agent was identified in PubMed or on ClinicalTrials.gov; the two human studies found tested multi-ingredient microneedle patches in which acetyl octapeptide-3 was one of several actives, so no effect can be attributed to the peptide ^2,3,7.

References

Acetyl octapeptide-3 (CID 76283482): compound summary, synonyms and computed properties PubChem. 2026
Efficacy of bioactive peptides loaded on hyaluronic acid microneedle patches: A monocentric clinical study Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2020
Clinical Safety and Efficacy Evaluation of a Dissolving Microneedle Patch Having Dual Anti-Wrinkle Effects With Safe and Long-Term Activities Annals of Dermatology. 2024
Skin scars and wrinkles temporary camouflage in dermatology and oncoesthetics: focus on acetyl hexapeptide-8 Clinica Terapeutica. 2020
Polydioxanone Bioactive Sutures-Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (Argireline): An Intelligent System for Controlled Release in Facial Harmonization Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery. 2023
Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding Under Section 503A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (updated May 14, 2026) FDA. 2026
PubMed search for acetyl octapeptide-3 (two records, both multi-ingredient microneedle patch studies) PubMed. 2026
Public Interest in Acetyl Hexapeptide-8: Longitudinal Analysis JMIR Dermatology. 2024
World Anti-Doping Code International Standard Prohibited List 2026 WADA. 2026

Last reviewed October 22, 2026 by the Amiravo editorial team. Editorial policy · Report an error