Peptide Therapy

What Are Peptides?

Peptides are strings of molecules called amino acids, which are the "building blocks" of proteins. Peptides are basically short proteins that are about 2-100 amino acids long.

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Your body makes peptides that serve important functions in some of your body's most necessary processes. For instance, insulin is a 51-amino-acid-long peptide hormone that helps your cells take in sugars from your food to use for metabolism and store them in your liver. Researchers have been working to develop peptides as treatments for some medical conditions since 1921. In fact, insulin was the first peptide ever made in a lab by scientists (called a synthetic peptide), and it's been used to treat people with type 1 diabetes since 1923.

Peptides: Types, Uses, and Benefits

Peptides for skin

Your body makes a few peptides in your skin, includingantimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that help you fight bacteria, heal wounds, and build a strong skin barrier. If your skin makes too few or too many AMPs, you may have psoriasis, eczema, rosacea, or acne. Lotions and serums that include AMPs may help restore the skin barrier and ease swelling and redness in people with psoriasis or eczema. Also, AMPs may help keep bacteria from infecting your pores and causing acne, and may also help people with diabetes who have ulcers or sores heal better. You usually need a prescription for medicines containing these peptides, so talk to your doctor if you are interested in trying one of these

Peptides for muscle growth and weight loss

Creatine and collagen supplements may help boost muscle growth or muscle repair. However, certain types of synthetic peptides thought to be linked to muscle growth, known as growth hormone secretagogues (GHS), may be illegal and unsafe. For instance, they may reduce your body's sensitivity to insulin and increase your blood sugar. In addition, if you are competing in an athletic competition, all GHS supplements are on the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned list.

Peptides for hair growth

Some peptides may help you grow longer, thicker, and healthier hair. For instance, collagen peptides such as GHK-Cu may help trigger more hair growth in people with pattern hair loss. You can buy this as a serum that you can apply to your scalp. Other options include collagen peptide supplements in the form of powders or pills and folitin, which is another serum you can apply directly to your scalp.

Peptides for bone loss

Collagen peptide supplements may also help improve your bone mineral density. In one study, taking collagen peptide supplements daily for a year increased bone mineral density in the upper back and upper leg bones of people assigned female at birth (AFAB) after menopause. There are also a couple of peptide drugs that are FDA-approved to treat osteoporosis.