What are copper peptides?
Copper peptides are tripeptide molecules composed of three amino acids that combine with copper ions to form compounds. Copper is an essential trace element involved in a variety of physiological functions, including red blood cell production, immune response, antioxidant defense, collagen and elastin synthesis, etc. The copper peptide was originally isolated from human plasma in 1973, and in 1985 it was found to have wound repair function, in 1999 researchers believed that copper peptide and its copper complex can be used as an activator of tissue remodeling, copper peptide is also a signal peptide, promote the degradation of a large number of collagen aggregates outside the scar, normal collagen synthesis in the skin, elastin, proteoglycan and glutamine glycan production, growth rate and migration of different cell types, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant response. The copper peptide has attracted much attention in the field of skin care and hair care due to its unique biological activity.
The earliest copper peptide discovered is GHK-Cu (Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine), which is composed of glycine, histidine and lysine, which can highly bind to copper ions and play a variety of roles such as promoting wound healing, reducing inflammation, and stimulating collagen production. As research progressed, scientists discovered more varieties of copper peptides and began to apply them to a variety of skincare and hair care products.
GHK-Cu (Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine)
GHK-Cu is a combination of a polypeptide (tripeptide-1) and a copper ion, copper is a trace element required by the human body, and the tripeptide itself stimulates the production of collagen, which can better introduce copper ions into the skin when combined with copper. Because of the blue color of copper ions, hence the name blue copper peptide, it can promote the production of collagen and elastin, can be anti-aging, help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, help wound healing and skin repair effects.
Fig.1 GHK-Cu chemical structure formula.
Table 1 Copper peptides at Creative Peptides.
Ordinary Copper Peptides
Common copper peptides usually refer to other tripeptides or polypeptides that contain copper ions, and these peptide chains may contain different combinations of amino acids. Although they are not as well studied as GHK-Cu, many common copper peptides have likewise shown positive effects in skin care and hair care. For example, some common copper peptides have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory effects, which can help reduce skin problems and improve scalp health.
Best Copper Peptides
The "best copper peptide" does not refer to a specific copper peptide, but is evaluated based on its effectiveness in a specific application. Depending on your skincare and hair care needs, certain copper peptides may perform particularly well. For example, in the field of anti-aging, GHK-Cu is considered one of the best copper peptides, while some new copper peptide combinations may be more effective in treating hair loss and promoting hair regrowth.
Copper peptides benefits
Copper Peptides (such as GHK-Cu) have several significant advantages in skin care and cosmetics:
Anti-aging effects
Copper peptides can quickly improve skin problems, including the reduction of fine lines, wrinkles, roughness, yellowing (sick yellow skin), skin laxity, and pigmentation (brown spots).
Copper peptides significantly promote the synthesis of collagen, especially collagen III (15% of the dermis), which gives the skin its supple properties that decrease with age.
Antioxidant Effect
Copper peptide is involved in the formation of superoxide dismutase, a powerful skin antioxidant that reduces photodamage and pigmentation.
Promotes wound healing
Copper peptide can increase the accumulation rate of connective tissue, thereby effectively promoting wound healing and reducing scarring.
These advantages make copper peptides a potential anti-aging ingredient, but care needs to be taken to avoid using them with acids so as not to affect the activity of copper ions.
What do copper peptides do?
Copper peptides for skin
Moderate use of copper peptide can be a powerful weapon against aging. According to James J Leyden, a professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania and the university's Johnson & Johnson Skin Research Center, the use of GHK-Cu in skin care and cosmetics is helpful in improving the phenomenon of skin aging. Products containing GHK-Cu can quickly improve skin concerns, including the reduction of fine lines, wrinkles, roughness, yellowing (a sickly yellow skin), skin laxity, and pigmentation.
At present, copper peptides have a variety of functions in skin care and cosmetics, mainly including the following:
Anti-aging and skin repair
According to numerous studies, including a 1993 study by Maquart et al., copper can increase the rate of accumulation of connective tissue in the body, effectively improving the healing rate of wounds. Copper peptides such as GHK-Cu can significantly improve the appearance of skin aging, including the reduction of fine lines, wrinkles, roughness, yellowing (sick yellow skin), skin laxity, and pigmentation (brown spots).
Copper peptides significantly boost the synthesis of collagen and elastin, which are important components of the skin's structure and help to tighten the skin and reduce wrinkles.
Improves skin texture
As early as 1988, in vitro, fibroblast experiments have confirmed that copper peptides can induce collagen production. Since then, several studies have found that the copper peptide complex stimulates procollagen synthesis even more potentially than the patented anti-aging products Retin-A (tretinoin) or L-vitamin C. Specifically, copper peptides affect the synthesis of collagen 3, also known as "fetal collagen", followed by collagen, which is the most prevalent in the dermis.
Inhibits hair follicle atrophy and promotes hair growth
Copper peptide can inhibit 5α-reductase activity and reduce testosterone (DHT) production, thereby improving hair loss.
Copper peptide analogues can stimulate hair follicle cell proliferation, promote hair growth, make vellus hair grow and mature, and prevent hair loss.
Promotes angiogenesis
Copper peptides can increase the number of new capillaries, help rebuild blood flow to injured tissues, and improve nutrient supply and oxygen exchange to the skin.
Copper peptide for hair growth
The ability of copper peptides to help hair growth was discovered because the hair follicles around the wound were found to be particularly large when the wound was treated. It appears to act on hair follicles in two ways: by increasing the number of hair follicle cells. Copper peptides also reduce the death of hair follicle cells, which causes hair follicles to become smaller. In a study of rat hair, researchers noticed an increase in the size of hair follicles, suggesting that the copper peptide works similarly to minoxidil for hair growth, a common ingredient used to treat hair loss.
Copper peptides and vitamin C
Vitamin C is known to reduce wrinkles, reduce pigmentation, prevent photoaging, and stimulate collagen production. Copper peptide is considered to be a superior collagen activator than vitamin C. However, there has long been a rumor that the combination of the two is likely not to work. According to many beauty websites, copper peptides break down vitamin C, causing it to become ineffective as a side effect. However, some studies have shown that a combination of the two is not a problem. There is evidence that the two react with each other, with vitamin C replacing peptides as chelating agents surrounding copper, although this is uncommon. This situation depends on the relative concentration of these two substances, which is negligible in terms of the overall effect of the product.
Summary
As an important bioactive substance, copper peptide has become a star ingredient in skin and hair care products due to its multiple benefits in promoting skin and hair health. Whether it's a classic copper peptide like GHK-Cu or a new copper peptide, they all play a significant role in different skincare needs. At the same time, when using copper peptides, it is also necessary to be cautious when using vitamin C, and reasonable use methods can maximize the effects of both. With the continuous deepening of research, copper peptide is expected to bring more surprises and breakthroughs in the field of skin care and hair care in the future.
