How do amino acids and peptides help heal skin
You may have heard about amino acids / peptides / proteins / collagen, all being important factors in skin health and healing. But what are they all?
Amino acids, peptides, growth factors, and collagen are all important molecules that play a role in the health and appearance of the skin. However, they are different in their chemical structure and function.
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. They are small molecules that are linked together to form peptides and proteins. There are 20 different amino acids that are commonly found in the human body, and they are essential for the growth and repair of skin tissue. Amino acids play a role in the production of collagen, which is the main structural protein in the skin. Proteins make up about 42% of the dry weight of human bodies. Collagen holds our skin, tendons, muscles, and bones together and makes up about one quarter of the body’s total protein. Collagen can not easily penetrate the skin because it has a molecular weight making it too large to penetrate the top layer of skin. This is why we use other actives to stimulate collagen production, or use the smaller molecules that make up collagen instead, which are obviously smaller and can penetrate the skin more easily.
Peptides are short chains of amino acids. They are smaller than proteins and can easily penetrate the skin. Peptides have a variety of functions in the skin, such as stimulating collagen production, reducing inflammation, and promoting cell growth. Many skin care products contain peptides to improve the appearance of the skin and this is especially important when trying to heal skin even better along with Multi-Trepannic Collagen Actuation techniques such as microneedling or MCA inkless needling.
Growth factors are molecules that play a role in the regulation of cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. They are involved in the healing and repair of skin tissue. They work by signalling to cells to divide and grow, which can help to promote the formation of new skin cells and blood vessels. Some skin care products contain growth factors to promote wound healing and improve the appearance of the skin. There are 4 types of growth facors – skin cells (epidermal growth factor, EGF) nerve cells (nerve growth factor, NGF) connective tissue or mesenchymal cells (fibroblast growth factor, FGF) thrombus-forming cells that line blood vessels (platelet- derived growth factor, PDGF). Growth factors can be sourcced from epidermal cells, human foreskin, placental cells, colostrum, recombinant bacteria, yeast, and plants. They can also be produced biosynthetically.
Collagen is a protein that gives skin its strength and elasticity. It is the main structural protein in the skin, and it is essential for maintaining the skin’s firmness and elasticity. Collagen production decreases with age, which can lead to wrinkles and sagging skin. Some skin care products contain collagen or compounds that stimulate collagen production to improve the appearance of the skin. This includes serums with peptides or individual amino acids that are used in conjunction with needling (microneedling or MCA inkless needling) which increases absorption rates by up to 300%. The more amino acids, peptides, and growth factors packed in to a serum, the more expensive they are, with some costing around £22 for just a small 3ml vial!
Taking collagen orally as a supplement (tablets / powder etc) can help improve skin health.
In summary, amino acids, peptides, growth factors, and collagen are all important molecules that play a role in the health and appearance of the skin. They are different in their chemical structure and function. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, peptides are short chains of amino acids, growth factors are molecules that regulate cell growth and differentiation, and collagen is a protein that gives skin its strength and elasticity. They all have different functions and benefits when it comes to improving the health and appearance of the skin. While amino acids are essential for the growth and repair of skin tissue, peptides have a variety of functions such as stimulating collagen production, reducing inflammation, and promoting cell growth. Growth factors are involved in the healing and repair of skin tissue and collagen is essential for maintaining the skin’s firmness and elasticity. Many skin care products contain a combination of these ingredients to improve the overall health and appearance of the skin. It is important to consult a skincare professional or a dermatologist before using any product to make sure it is suitable for your skin type and condition. Amino acids, peptides and growth factors are used in scar repair serums to help healing even further during treatments such as MCA inkless needling.