Silver, diamonds, and gold have all been used in some of the beauty industry's most successful lotions, and skincare lovers have long praised elemental beauty. Meanwhile, copper, which is less glossy in fine jewellery but a winner in skincare, has been used for many years to cure anything from acne to collagen breakdown and is now a significant ingredient in a slew of new treatments. It's an ingredient to consider adding to your arsenal whether your skin is dry, oily, mature, or acne-prone.
With copper insufficiency becoming a more common ailment in both men and women, modern science has delved deeper into how copper functions in the body's activities.
It turns out that a percentage of the daily copper consumption (about 15% to be exact) is saved for skin, implying that the outside of the body requires copper just as much as the inside. This is why copper skincare is so appealing: it allows us to apply copper straight to the skin and observe immediate benefits.
What exactly are copper peptides?
A copper peptide is generated when the copper mineral is coupled with at least three amino acids in the GHL-Cu molecule. As humans, we naturally do this in particular portions of our bodies, such as our blood plasma, saliva, and urine. One of the essential advantages of peptides is that they are found naturally in the human body, making them one of the safest chemical skincare treatments to use.
While copper peptides appear to have various beneficial effects on the skin, the most important benefit is their capacity to induce fast collagen and fibroblast formation. Both of these provide elasticity to our skin, allowing the enzymes to firm, smooth, and soften our skin at such a rapid rate that anti-ageing outcomes are achieved. The peptides also can eliminate damaged collagen and elastin from the skin at the same time. Scar tissue is removed from these damaged enzymes, allowing for slow repair.
Absorption of copper through the skin
The skin is our largest organ, and it is via it that substances are absorbed most directly into the bloodstream. Copper peptides are antioxidants found naturally in our bodies and are responsible for everything from our skin's firmness, plumpness, and smooth texture to its elasticity, hydration, and the creation of glycosaminoglycans (hyaluronic acid is an example) and collagen. However, your body does not produce an infinite amount of it.
After 20, production slows, then ends at 40; this is where topical copper peptides and their youth-preserving benefits come in.
The star ingredient is also antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, with many therapeutic characteristics that heal wounds and prevent acne breakouts. Its natural purpose in the human body involves stimulating a wide range of skin health processes, including healing, immunological function, collagen synthesis, fibroblast formation (cells that act as collagen/elastin 'factories,' and anti-inflammatory reactions.
This is why, in recent years, there has been such a substantial shift toward natural skincare and beauty products.
What are some of the advantages of copper peptides?
-
Reverse signs of ageing
GHK-Cu penetrates the skin's deeper layers, stimulating the production of essential proteins such as collagen and elastin. They aid in the healing of collagen fibres and the restoration of skin suppleness. They make layers thicker and firmer by increasing their thickness.
-
Operate as scavengers of free radicals
In the body, unstable oxygen atoms anxiously seek electrons, causing damage to collagen and cell DNA in the process. The sun's UV rays are the primary source of free radicals in the skin. Copper peptides are a powerful antioxidant that prevents free radical damage by neutralizing them with superoxide dismutase, a naturally occurring enzyme in our bodies.
-
Wrinkle free skin, thanks to anti-ageing
Collagen and elastin are two proteins that make up the body's connective tissue. Unfortunately, the amount of collagen and elastin in the skin decreases with age, reaching a point around the age of 25 when the supply is insufficient to meet the skin's needs. The architecture of the organs is maintained by connective tissue, which gives them strength and shape. It's also found in the skin's deeper layers, where it delivers its firmness and elasticity. Elastin production declines with age, and your skin loses suppleness. Copper peptides aid in the formation of elastin, which improves skin suppleness.
-
Keeps moisture in
Copper tripeptide stimulates the formation of hyaluronic acid, which helps our skin maintain moisture. Hyaluronic acid is a component of connective tissue that helps to keep our skin hydrated, smooth, and fresh by locking in moisture. On the other hand, Copper-tripeptide boosts the formation of Gags, or glycosaminoglycan, a sugar complex that attracts water.
-
Skin healing
Copper tripeptide possesses a remarkable DNA-repair potential, according to recent research. Copper tripeptide boosts anti-inflammatory activity, which aids in skin healing. It reduces acne scars and spots by preventing the build-up of damaged protein on the skin. Another study found that when copper tripeptide-1 was present, diabetic wounds healed three times faster. Chemical peels, dermabrasion, and other products that promote skin recovery post-surgery contain them (mechanical peel). They even keep the connective tissues in good shape by providing prompt repair and support.
-
Aid in the initiation of several bodily functions.
Copper Peptides aid in the production of biochemical energy from nutrients in the bloodstream. They even increase the microcirculation of blood vessels in the skin.
-
Get rid of scars by rebuilding the skin
Damaged proteins, such as damaged collagen and elastin, are removed (which accumulate to produce scars on the surface). Copper Peptides keep skin proteins from breaking down too much. They help restore a protective skin barrier and tighten the texture of your skin, giving you a youthful and plump appearance.
-
Copper aids angiogenesis
Copper aids in the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones and the rejuvenation of the skin through collagen and elastin synthesis, a process known as angiogenesis. Copper peptides help tighten sagging skin and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating collagen formation in the skin.
-
Protection from the sun:
Both free radicals and UV radiation harm the skin's capacity to renew, resulting in wrinkles, age spots, and, in rare cases, skin cancer. Copper peptides may have a favourable effect on skin fibroblasts, which produce connective tissue, perhaps protecting the skin barrier from UV damage.
-
Bacterial Concentration Normalization
Copper has been shown to reduce bacterial concentrations on the skin significantly. It also encourages the body's natural healing process, but it also nourishes and strengthens the skin's defences.
CONCLUSION:
Copper is a versatile component that should be included in your skincare routine. For millennia, humans have recognized the necessity of copper intake. In the scriptures that gave Ayurvedic health to the world, the Ancient Indians spoke on daily copper intake over 5000 years ago. They considered copper to be so significant that they advised everyone to begin each day by drinking water that had been stored overnight in a copper water bottle or vessel.