What are Peptides?

Manufacturers of skin products like to present trendy anti-aging ingredients as the next big thing in skincare, but it can be difficult to separate the hype from the truth with so many terms, like retinol, antioxidants, collagen, and peptides. Today, we’re going to talk about peptides—what they are, what they are said to do, and how these claims hold up when used in actual skincare routines. Aging gracefully is all well and good, but there’s no reason not to try keeping your skin as young and fresh as possible—for as long as possible. Could peptides help you do that?

A Summary of Peptides

Peptides are sort of “mini proteins” made of chains of amino acids that function to stimulate collagen production. Collagen is the essential connective protein that give skin its firmness, youth, and elasticity, and our collagen production slowly decreases over time as we age, causing skin to sag and wrinkle. When collagen breaks down, peptides are formed, and encourage the skin to replace that depleted collagen. Added peptides are used to keep collagen formation strong even as the body starts to produce led of it naturally.

The Alleged Benefits of Peptides

Added peptides in skincare products “trick” the skin into thinking collagen needs to be replenished. By stimulating extra collagen production, peptide additives are used in skincare products to improve skin’s overall appearance, reduce wrinkling, and produce subtle anti-aging results.

What Products Feature Peptides?

Some peptides that are common in skincare products include matrixyl and copper peptides. The most common skincare products to feature peptides are topical serums and creams. Peptide products can be very pricy, but also require some patience. These products take at least a month to start working, and they may be more effective for some people than for others. Unfortunately, peptides seem to be an ongoing investment, as stopping their use seems to also halt the benefits they offer.

Do They Work?

For an over-the-counter, completely non-invasive skin treatment, peptides have significant anecdotal and scientific evidence to back up their anti-aging claims. With that said, not every solution is right for everyone, and some people who want more significant anti-aging results will be better off seeking more powerful treatments from a dermatologist.

Not Enough? Powerful Skin Treatments for Anti-Aging

Peptides might be a great tool in your anti-aging arsenal, but if you’re looking for serious results, you’re going to need to step things up with a professional skin treatment. There are lots of options these days for minimally-invasive procedures that produce great results. Here are just three of many popular treatments that can be extremely effective for anti-aging:

Ultherapy®

A procedure that uses ultrasound energy, Ultherapy® is a safe and gentle treatment that stimulates collagen production for significant skin-tightening benefits. Though the treatment takes only 60-90 minutes, and patients can return to their normal activities within a day, skin tightening continues gradually over 2-6 months following the treatment. Only one treatment is needed to see great results.

Injectable Treatments

Injectable anti-aging treatments such as Botox® and soft tissue fillers temporarily reduce facial wrinkling for a period of 3-12 months, depending on the formula. These treatments offer efficient and impressive results with no downtime and very few side effects. Soft tissue fillers can also be used to add subtle facial volume. For long-term results, patients need to repeat the treatment once it has worn off.

Chemical Peels

Ranging from simple skin refreshers to deep anti-aging treatments, chemical peels are skin resurfacing procedures to help improve overall skin quality. Light peels can be repeated periodically as part of a normal skincare routine, but more intensive peels require some downtime and are considered one-time treatments.

Talk to an Expert

If you’re interested in anti-aging procedures, or simply want to step up your skincare, then it’s time to speak with an expert, board certified dermatologist. You’ll be able to get your questions answered and come up with a skincare and treatment plan that works for you.

Dr. Diane Walder is a renowned skincare expert, known as an authority on cosmetic dermatology and often consulted with for major publications including Vogue and Cosmopolitan. If you would like to meet with Dr. Walder and her colleagues about your skin, call Dr. Walder’s Miami office at (305-866-2177) today.