There’s been a lot of buzz about peptides and what they can do for your skin, muscles, and health. But what exactly are they and do they live up to the hype?
A peptide is a string of amino acids—the building blocks of proteins. Your body makes peptides, and you can also find them in lab-made supplements. Peptides have a variety of benefits, including stimulating muscle growth, boosting collagen production, increasing fat burning and metabolism, improving mood and sleep, and reducing wrinkles.
Peptides are usually found in serums that are formulated to be absorbed quickly into the skin, as opposed to creams. Many people find that peptides for skin are more effective than their cream counterparts, and can help revitalize your appearance by reducing fine lines and wrinkles, as well as improving the appearance of sun-damaged skin. In addition, peptides can also reduce acne, boost collagen and elastin to promote skin elasticity, improve skin tone, and increase the blood flow of your pores.
Arginine-rich cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) such as Tat and Penetratin have been shown to be internalized into cells in a manner that relies on endocytosis. However, re-evaluation using living unfixed cells has revealed that direct translocation across membranes and cytosolic distribution of these peptides is also possible. Furthermore, the application of amphiphilic counteranions such as pyrenebutyrate dramatically accelerates both endocytosis and direct translocation.
A tetrapeptide, GEKG, has been conjugated to ascorbyl succinyl to form a novel C-terminal vitamin C peptide (ascorbyl tetrapeptide). GEKG can stimulate the proliferation and migration of dermal fibroblasts in vitro, and it can also induce reorganization of basement membrane proteins in vivo.