Peptides have become a longstanding staple in the cosmetics industry, and with good cause. They can offer some serious benefits for skin health and overall appearance. But a lot of people don’t know what peptides are or how they factor into the skincare process.
The fact is you don’t need a Ph.D. in biology to understand this concept, and a little knowledge can go a long way to helping you make better decisions in the future about how to work peptides into your daily skincare regimen.
Peptides: Like Proteins, But Different
Peptides are small pieces of proteins that are linked together like chains of molecules. They are formed when amino acids make bonds together and are comprised mostly of hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen, though some peptides also contain other elements as well.
So is a peptide a protein? Not exactly. It’s very similar, but peptides are smaller and have a slightly different structure. Part of the definition of what makes a peptide a peptide is that it has 50 or fewer amino acids. Proteins by definition are chains of more than 50 amino acids.
They may be small, but they can pack a mighty punch when it comes to skin rejuvenation. Hook these amino acids together in the right sequence, and you have a wonderful supplement for the health of your skin.
The Power of Peptides
It’s no surprise that the body responds positively to peptides, in fact, the human body produces millions of them every day. And when people introduce the right peptides into their skincare regimen, these tenacious amino acids can help revitalize the building blocks of healthy skin.
More collagen means that the skin is more resilient, firm, and youthful-looking. How collagen does this is a cause for some debate, but what has been proven time and time again is that it does. Sunlight and the elements can wear down collagen, so having the boost that the right peptides can provide can be invaluable.
How Peptides Work
Despite their small size, peptides are too big to penetrate to cells. It’s kind of a silly analogy, but you can think of peptides a little like consultants. Peptides bond to an existing, larger structure (in this case a cell) and through the cell’s receptors, they give directions on what the cell should do. Different peptides will give different directions, naturally, but the ones we’re concerned with will direct the cell to produce more collagen.
Peptides achieve these changes by messages targeted directly to the nucleus of the cell known as transcription factors. When everything is working, the cell then gets the message and begins to change its behavior.
Many companies are producing synthetic peptides or premium peptides that are engineered to get the desired effects even more effectively.
The Limitations of Peptides
So why aren’t more people dropping everything and investing all of their money in peptides for skincare? Well, like most things involving our bodies, it’s a little more complicated than that. Just because something has peptides in it, real or synthetic, doesn’t mean it’s a slam dunk product.
These days there are so many skincare options out there, from medical procedures down to products to be found in the drug store aisle, that peptides do not have to be your end all be all solution. And there is still something to be said for a healthy diet and exercise.
Plus, when it comes to peptides themselves, there are many different combinations of peptides and so many different products out there, it can take some experimentation to find the right match for your skin type.
And of course, it’s important to work some UV protection into your daily schedule, particularly if you live in a very sunny climate (though you should be doing this wherever you live).
Learn More
For those science whizzes out there who are interested in learning more about the nitty-gritty of how these proteins work their magic, there are tons of great resources out there to educate you on what makes peptides tick. Have fun digging into a fascinating topic!
