Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

What Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 is and Why It Works So Well in Skin Care Products to Reduce the Signs of Aging

Next on the cosmeceutical peptide scene was Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (trademark Argireline and formerly known as Acetyl Hexapeptide-3). It is a six (hexa-) amino acid chain linked to acetyl fatty acid as a penetration enhancer. The sequence of amino acids is EEMQRR (Glutamic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Methionine, Glutamine, Arginine, Arginine.

Argireline has been marketed as a needle-free alternative to Botox because its effect is to inhibit muscle contractions which form deep lines of expression.

Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter responsible for sending the message signaling a muscle to contract. Botox prevents muscle contraction by paralyzing the muscles: the acetylcholine sends its message but the muscle cannot respond.

Argireline works by blocking the acetylcholine from reaching the muscles: the acetylcholine sends its message but the muscle does not receive it.

In vitro tests of cultured muscle tissue by Lipotec, S.A., the manufacturer of Argireline, demonstrated that it reduces acetylcholine transmission to muscles by approximately 30%.

Skeletal muscle cultures have been observed to undergo a certain number of spontaneous contractions per unit time under normal conditions. When Argireline was added to these skeletal muscle cultures, the number of spontaneous contractions per unit time was observed to decrease by 30%.

Lipotec also conducted tests on live subjects. They made silicon imprints of subjects' wrinkles pre-test and after 30 days of twice daily application of Argireline.

Laser scanning microscopy was used to measure and compare wrinkle depth. The reduction in wrinkle depth was statistically significant.

Products which contain Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 or Argireline are:

DDF Wrinkle Relax
Clinical Deep Crease

Click on any of the titles below to learn more about peptides used in antiaging skin care products.

This article is for information only. It does not purport to offer medical advice.

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