If you ever have walked down the cosmetic aisle of any major department store, you may have noticed the section devoted to anti-aging skincare products.
Some of the cosmeceuticals found in these formulas include hyaluronic acid or argireline.
Other types of skin serums may contain matrixyl, while other formulas use Coenzyme Q10, beta glucan, and green tea.
One natural compound which is receiving a lot of press these days is copper peptides.
This compound is added to several anti-aging skincare serums.
But what is this compound, and is it effective in reducing wrinkles? To answer these questions, it is important to know something about this compound and where it comes from.
A copper peptide consists of the element Copper along with two or more protein molecules (called a peptide) bound together.
The element Copper can be found in our diet from foods such as beans, shellfish, nuts, or it can be taken in the form of a supplement.
It is an important mineral for our overall health.
Your family doctor can test if you are deficient in this mineral by taking a hair analysis.
This nutrient is also very important for women.
There are claims that it can help to prevent osteoporosis, which is often a major medical issue for women as they age.
Certainly anything that we can do to help prevent bone fragility, as well as the fractures that come from bone fragility, is important to our skeletal health.
If a diet includes foods that are high in Copper, it will be beneficial for skeletal health, but will it help diminish wrinkles and help improve facial sag? Unfortunately, there is no scientific evidence showing that maintaining the optimum levels of this mineral through diet alone is associated with the reduction of wrinkles or improved facial sag.
However, Copper peptides contained in facial creams and serums are beneficial for anti-aging skin care purposes because they stimulate collagen production.
This will help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
It can also help with improving facial sag because it also increases elastin synthesis.
Keep in mind, however, that not all products are the same.
In your search to find a beneficial Copper Peptide formula for your aging skin, choose one that contains the peptide GHK.
As mentioned above, Copper Peptide skin care products are not created equal, and you should use products that have Dr.
Pickart's patent on them.
He is the researcher who discovered these compounds, and has conducted extensive research on its benefits for skin, hair and overall health.
Many people, including myself, have scarring after surgery.
Various treatments such as dermabrasion and natural treatments including essential oils and copper peptides have been used to treat this skin condition.
Another medical treatment that has been used to treat scars is laser surgery.
The overall success of this treatment will depend upon the type and severity of the scar.
Scars react well to Copper Peptide and Alpha and Beta Hydroxy acid treatments which is good news for those people who want natural therapies.
Of course, the proper treatment of scars should be monitored by your dermatologist.
You can discuss with him the possibility of incorporating these two natural compounds into your total treatment program.
Beta hydroxy acids are milder than the alpha hydroxy formulas, making the former your first treatment option.
Beta hydroxy acids help loosen scar tissue, and the application afterwards of a Copper Peptide skin care cream can help remove the scar tissue from the body.
It is important to be patient and to not expect a quick fix when using these formulas since it may take several months to achieve satisfactory results.
In evaluating the effectiveness of any skin care formula for the treatment of any skin care condition, it is important that the ingredients be non-toxic, and that they do not cause any adverse side effects or any allergic reactions.
Fortunately, Copper Peptides have been shown to be a relatively safe compound, but some reports maintain that if the compound is overused, free radical damage may result.
For the most part, very few, if any, side effects have been reported for this natural compound.
However, it is always best to first consult with your doctor to determine if this is the best possible treatment option for your particular case.
If you are searching for a versatile skin care compound that can reduce acne scars and stretch marks, tighten skin around wounds, and treat aging skin look no further than copper peptides.
Through the wonderful work of Dr.
Loran Pickart we now have another non-toxic anti-aging compound which we can use, along with other cosmeceuticals, in the safe and effective treatment of a variety of skin conditions.