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Create your free business website! www.ascpskincare.com 33 he benefi ts of peptides have been touted for years. It seems every major skin care line includes at least one product focused on these popular ingredients. But what can they actually do for the skin? Many estheticians think of the collagen-building effects. Others think of the ability to relax fi ne lines and wrinkles. While both of these are correct, peptides are capable of so much more. What are Peptides? Physically, peptides can be described in two ways. Structurally, they are short chains of amino acids: when multiple amino acids group together in a chain, a peptide is created. Peptides can also be described as protein fragments: proteins like collagen, elastin, integrin, and laminin are all comprised of peptides. Amino acids make up peptides, which in turn make up the proteins of our skin. Peptides are found naturally in our bodies, but many of the peptides used in skin care products are derived from plant sources like rice, wheat, or yeast. For maximum potency and stability, they are hydrolyzed (broken down into their amino acid components) and then put back together in the correct sequence for the targeted action they are intended to take. Functionally, a peptide can be thought of as a cell communicator. It signals certain cells to act in a certain way. In fact, one of the most exciting questions being asked in the medical fi eld is whether peptides could be used to cure some forms of cancer by signaling cancerous cells to shut down. In skin care, peptides use their signaling ability to tell skin cells to act in a healthier, younger way. We know that as we age, the structure and function of our skin begins to decline. Peptides are able to make our skin act more like it did when we were younger. Since each peptide has a different function, any given peptide cannot perform every desired task within the skin. Some signal the skin to produce more collagen; others can help with cell renewal, hydration, hyperpigmentation, skin sensitivity, or other issues; still others, called neuropeptides, help to relax the muscle contractions that cause fi ne lines and wrinkles. It is important to use enough different peptides to address all concerns. How they're changing the face of skin care by Erin Ferrill T The Straightforward Guide to Peptides