Recent Articles of Interest

What exactly are copper peptides and how can these elements boost skin rejuvenation? Generally speaking, peptides are small portions of proteins (and the proteins are the basic building blocks of most living tissues). Some kinds of peptides have an avid affinity for copper, to which they bind very tightly. The resulting compound including a peptide and a copper atom has become known as a copper peptide.

A lot of substances can have a positive effect on wound healing. A distinctive characteristic of bioavailable copper peptides is that they reduce scar tissue formation while promoting normal skin remodeling. In other words, they help better restore the damaged area to its original look.

The sequence of copper peptide action is relatively complex. Copper bound to aminoacids promotes the degradation of "extra-large" collagen bundles found in scars and promotes the production of smaller more regular collagen found in normal skin. It also promotes the production of elastin, glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans and other components of the skin matrix. Other crucial actions of Copper Peptides include the capability to control the growth rate and migration of different types of cells; significant anti-inflammatory action; and the capability to avoid the release of iron capable of promoting oxidation into the tissues. The net result is a faster, better and "cleaner" curing.

You can say it's nice to have perfectly healed wounds, but what about people who do not have any wounds or ulcerations to heal? Can copper peptides be effective for regular skin protection and rejuvenation? It appears that they can. However, while the wound healing actions of copper peptide have been investigated and documented in various studies, much less research has been done so far on their cosmetic and antiaging use.

Various existing skin care solutions are based on the concept of removing the external or even deeper layers of the skin. The resulting healing mechanism stimulates skin remodeling leading to smoother, younger looking skin. Since copper peptides optimize curing and improve skin remodeling, they can increase the effect of therapies based on various forms of controlled skin damage. In particular, copper peptides can be effective after various types of laser resurfacing, dermabrasion, and chemical peels.

Copper peptides are efficient against several forms of skin irritation, mainly due to their anti-inflammatory actions. Skin irritation, even in the absence of open lesions, strongly accelerates skin aging by promoting the formation of free radicals and other damaging by-products. Some renamed skin rejuvenation treatments, like tretinoin (Retin A, Renova) and alpha hydroxy acids can cause irritation. If during treatment you suffer skin irritation for an extended period of time, your skin will likely end up in a worse shape than when you started. In several cases, copper peptides can reduce or eliminate the irritation and help maximize treatment benefits.