Cosmetic Peptides and Its Types
Peptide is a generic term that refers to a short chain of amino acids. It is important to bear in mind that amino acids are monomers that are used to create proteins. Typically, peptides are not the same as proteins. They have shorter chains and do not possess secondary folding configurations. As a general rule, a chain of 50 or less amino acids is recognized as peptides. There are various kinds of cosmetic peptides that fulfill specific purposes. Keep reading below to dive deeper into its kinds and anti-aging applications in skincare:
Neurotransmitter Inhibitors
The primary purpose of these peptides is to lessen the appearance of wrinkles. Neurotransmitter inhibitors delay the function of acetylcholine through an array of chemical reactions. Few of the most severe versions of neurotransmitters include Curare and Botox. On the other hand, there are less severe versions of this peptide as well designed to be used on skin. As per the hypothesis, they alleviate facial muscles to prevent contraction – a reason why wrinkles appear. If the statistics are to go by, neurotransmitter inhibitor peptides can reduce the appearance of specific kinds of wrinkles by 30%.
Signal Peptides
Signal peptides are incorporated in beauty products because of their ability to stimulate skin fibroblasts that facilitate the production of collagen, and a host of other proteins. Signal peptides enhance these structures and create a slimmer and vibrant facial appearance. A common example of this peptide is GHK – one of the initial peptides ever discovered. In the early 1970s, it was separated from human plasmas and its healing properties were discovered in the 80s. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that this technology is fairly new. However, today, signal peptides are manufactured synthetically.
Carrier Peptides
Carrier peptides transport trace elements such as copper and magnesium to facilitate healing and enzymatic processes. Copper and magnesium have been known to enhance the pro-collagen synthesis, skin elasticity, and overall facial appearance. For instance, copper complex is constructed from various amino acids that aid in the treatment of diabetic neuropathic ulcers. Often referred to as “penetrating peptides”, carrier peptides have been long utilized to make the skin supple and firm.
Enzyme Inhibitor Peptides
These peptides possess the ability to decrease the collagen breakdown along with other proteins by disrupting the protein breakdown processes. For instance, certain enzymes (such as MMP) debase collagen and other structural proteins. Peptides originated from rice proteins can slow down the function of MMP enzyme, ensuring the accumulation of sufficient collagen. Furthermore, peptides drawn from soy proteins can also hold back enzymes, particularly proteases. What’s more, they have tremendous potential of reducing hair growth and pigmentation.
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