The Science Behind AntiAging Skin Care

The Science Behind AntiAging Skin Care

This article is designed for consumers who really want to know the science behind all the wonderful anti-aging skin care peptides found in the creams and lotions they buy or are thinking about purchasing.

If you want a quick summary, you're in the wrong place. Go to our Cosmeceutical Peptide Glossary.

Peptides are linear chains of amino acids in a specific sequence. Peptides typically function as hormones and signaling molecules regulating and supporting the body's processes. The science of synthesizing peptides is advancing rapidly and will bring new approaches to wound healing, disease treatment, pain management and anti-aging.

As you read about the clinical studies of these topical peptides, notice that most of the results are quantified. That is, they don't say, "x percent of the subjects thought they looked better after using this peptide."

Rather they report skin improvement as measured by skin biopsy and by instruments such as laser topography, ultrasound measurement of skin density, and cutometer readings of skin elasticity. [ A cutometer is a suction device placed against the skin. Upon release, the skin's return to its normal state is optically measured and timed.]

It is also important, in interpreting study results, to understand the use of the word "significant" in the scientific sense. For a result to be statisically "significant", it must occur in a magnitude that could not reasonably be ascribed to chance.

Click on the articles below to read about specific peptide chains used in anti-aging skin care products.

Effective Skin Care: The Peptides

GHK-Cu Copper Peptides
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7