Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Copper Peptides in Anti Wrinkle Creams

By Julie Samtsonn

When it comes to anti wrinkle creams, you may have heard the term copper peptides. Copper peptides are a wound healing compound, part of the quick regeneration of cells, when you cut your finger and the blood clots, and copper peptides rush to speed healing of the skin, then a scarring is produced, and then as the scar fades, new skin surfaces with the blood vessels and other traits in place, in a renewed sense. This is how the principle of copper peptides works in the anti aging, anti wrinkle process.

An application might include Alpa Hydroxy Acids to remove dead or dry skin cells might be followed with copper peptides to speed up the rejuvenation of the area. Dermatologists often use strong Alpha Hydroxy Acid peels, followed by Copper peptides to enhance the healing process. This results in newer, healthier-looking skin.

Some anti aging creams and anti wrinkle creams use this same technology, except in a milder application. It has been argued whether an over-the-counter simulation of this process is possible, since it is essentially a two-part step that in dermatology is usually best left to an expert for best results. It is possible to buy a simulated treatment, however, results may take a longer time to measure, and in some cases, the copper peptides available over-the-counter do not have the strength to show the same results.

This is meant to be more than a simple skin surfacing, it is more of a skin remodeling and rebuilding technique, like that which is used to treat burn patients. A comparison like this makes it easier to understand the complex nature of this method, which hard to buy at the cosmetics counter. It is a technique used in the newer laser abrasive treatments, which can cause scabs and scarring for several weeks, before healing the new skin underneath. This is not a technique you should try at home, although there could be topical treatments you may use on a lesser scale, but not with the same results.

There are anti aging creams and anti wrinkle creams that contain copper peptides, and they may contain a wound-healing, over-the-counter type of agent, that works much like a topical antibiotic, like Neosporin. This technique for wrinkle reduction would involve removal of that outer layer of skin, along with the encouraged healing of a new, under-layer of skin, that would not have the blemishes, age spots or discoloration of the previous one. There are some microdermabrasion kits that utilize this method of skin remodeling or rebuilding of a newer, better layer of skin, over multiple applications and time.

You need to research what might work best for you based on the type of your skin and how far in the aging process you are. Since this normally means an alpha hydroxy acid treatment, which can create redness, burning or blistering followed by a copper peptide based healing moisturizer, exercise caution and look for side effects and check with a dermatologist, whenever you have concerns. - 15995

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