Copper peptides are gaining in popularity as skin creams to enhance the appearance of skin. Treatments containing copper peptides are claimed to provide many benefits for the skin, and research is beginning to find promising results. While clinical trials involving copper peptides are limited, dangerous side effects have not been widely reported. Like any alternative skin treatment, consult your doctor before using copper peptides.
Definition
Copper peptides consist of copper in complex with a peptide. Peptides are very short chains of amino acids, the chemical building blocks that make up proteins. Attaching copper to peptides appears to improve delivery of copper to skin cells, explains an article published in the January 2011 issue of the medical journal "Inflammation Research."
Safety
The limited laboratory studies involving copper peptides have not found evidence of serious health risks from copper peptides. In fact, administering copper in the form of copper peptides may be safer than other forms of copper treatment, such as injections. Because copper peptides are applied to the skin, the skin appears to help naturally regulate absorption of copper into the bloodstream, reducing the risk of copper toxicity, the article in "Inflammation Research" explains.
Copper Toxicity
Although the body needs small amounts copper, exposure to too much copper can result in copper toxicity. Symptoms of copper toxicity include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea, warns the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. However, cases of copper toxicity most often result from ingestion of large amounts of copper, usually resulting from contamination of water or food from copper storage vessels. To reduce the risk of copper toxicity, always follow the manufacturer's guidelines when using copper peptide creams and avoid accidentally ingesting the creams.
Regulations
Although there are not widespread reports of safety concerns regarding copper peptides, bear in mind that skin creams are classified as cosmetics by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are not regulated as strictly as prescription drugs. As a result, copper peptide skin creams are not required to pass the same level of safety tests as medicines that require a prescription.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Skin Wrinkles and Blemishes – Treatment; Harvey Simon et al.; December 2008
- Cleveland Clinic: Understanding the Ingredients in Skin Care Products
- "Inflammation Research"; Human Skin Penetration of a Copper Tripeptide in Vitro as a Function of Skin Layer; Jurij J. Hostynek, et al.; January 2011
- MayoClinic.com: Wrinkle creams: Your Guide to Younger Looking Skin
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University: Copper; Jane Higdon, et al.; July 2007
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