PEPTIDES
As a skincare specialist, I'm happy that a lot of our readers are interested in learning about the benefits of peptides in skincare. Peptides are indeed an important ingredient in many effective skincare products. Here are some of the questions that our readers asked:
Generally speaking, what role do peptides play in the world of skin care?
Peptides are matrikines that influence or command the cells of the body in some way. Different types of peptides influence different types of cells. Peptides are large molecules of linked amino acids and they can form singular bonds to several dozens of bonds between amino acids.
The peptides used in skin care communicate with and direct the skin cells to behave in a certain way, such as producing more collagen or inhibiting certain chemicals that cause pigment or wrinkles for example.
How do peptides help build up collagen production?
Peptides are known to stimulate fibroblasts (where collagen and elastin fibers are being made) to produce those skin matrix proteins. As a result, we see firmer, more elastic and youthful appearing skin.
Who should be using peptides? How often?
This relates to the next question as well, since specific peptides are being used to target specific skin issues. If the person needs an anti-aging skin care product, they should use neurotransmitter-inhibiting, collagen breakdown inhibiting, and cell proliferation/structural skin protein production stimulating peptides.
Since the majority of young people only suffer from acne or hyperpigmentation, they would be best benefiting from peptides related to these issues, like our Meta C Serum. Peptides must be used in products that are left on the skin surface, and consistent use is imperative in order to see result.
Are there specific peptides we should be looking for in our skin care?
These are the most used peptides in the skin care industry:
Matrixyl 3000, Kinetin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Each Peptide has specific functions such as:
- stimulating structural skin proteins, they help production of collagen and elastin.
- cell proliferation, they help skin growth.
- enzyme activity inhibitiond, they decrease pigment production, or slow down the collagen breakdown for example.
- neurotransmitter-inhibiting peptides, they interrupt the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.
