A couple of weeks ago, Jennifer Aniston divulged two major confessions in her Wall Street Journal interview. The first is that she once tried a salmon sperm facial, though she admittedly isn’t sure if it did anything for her skin. Then she shared the antiaging secret she actually swears by, calling peptide injections “the future” of skin care.
The general public have been tuned in to Aniston’s beauty routine ever since her days playing Rachel Green on “Friends.” Now, almost 30 years since the debut, that statement rings even more true. So this latest admission has many asking themselves, “Should I be getting peptide injections, too?”
If you consider yourself to be a beauty fanatic, you’ve likely heard of peptides before. However, that was probably concerning skin-care ingredients and product formulations — not necessarily injections. Peptides are naturally occurring in the body and are found in all human cells. “Peptides are short chains of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins, and work with different hormones, enzymes, and organs,” NY-based longevity and regenerative medicine doctor Neil Paulvin, DO, tells POPSUGAR. They’re also called polypeptides and affect things such as collagen, elastin, and keratin in the skin.
So what exactly is peptide therapy? Instead of being applied topically to the skin, this treatment is administered via a syringe, meaning you need to see a doctor or trained aesthetician to get it.
Ahead, learn more about peptide injections from Dr. Paulvin and NY-based board-certified dermatologist Michelle Henry, MD, FAAD. They’re sharing how they work, what the key benefits are, and potential side effects to be aware of.
What Is Peptide Therapy?
Peptide therapy goes far beyond just beauty purposes. “Therapeutic peptides represent a distinct category of pharmaceutical agents, characterized by their precise arrangement of amino acids,” Dr. Henry says. “The exploration of therapeutic peptides originated from investigations into natural human hormones like insulin, oxytocin, vasopressin, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone.” The first commercial therapeutic peptide created was insulin, she adds.
Since its inception in the early 1900s, peptide therapy has undergone many advancements. “Modern peptide therapy, including the utilization of peptide injections, represents a cutting-edge approach utilized in both medical and aesthetic disciplines,” Dr. Henry says.
The therapy as a category encompasses more than just injections. “Peptide therapy can be given via oral supplements, topical creams, suppositories, IV therapy, injection, and intranasally,” Dr. Paulvin says.
How Do Peptide Injections Work?
Peptide therapy utilizes carefully selected peptides to deliver a variety of benefits. “[They’re] synthesized in laboratory settings to achieve specific desired effects,” Dr. Henry says. “These peptides are then introduced into patients through injection, a procedure usually conducted by trained medical professionals to ensure precision and effectiveness.”
Dr. Paulvin adds, “In general, peptides are most effective when they are injected directly into subcutaneous fat. From there, they exert their effect on hormones, enzymes, and organs.” The synthetic peptide harnesses the body’s natural mechanisms, interacting with specific cell receptors and triggering various cellular responses.
The treatment itself is fairly quick and easy — just like a regular vaccine. “First, the provider will draw the correct amount of units with an insulin syringe. Then, they will rub an alcohol wipe on your abdomen to disinfect the area. Finally, you inject the peptide,” Dr. Paulvin says. Another common injection site is the inner thigh. Dr. Henry describes it as “swift and minimally discomforting.”
Similar to Botox and filler, this is not a one-and-done solution. “The frequency of treatments varies according to the specific peptide utilized and the intended outcomes,” Dr. Henry says.
“For patients focused on antiaging benefits, I recommend two cycles per year, lasting two to three months each,” Dr. Paulvin says. This breaks down to one treatment a month for that period.
The Benefits of Peptide Injections
As previously mentioned, there are different types of synthetic peptides, offering different benefits. “These responses include heightened collagen production, expedited tissue repair, and the stimulation of growth factors,” Dr. Henry says.
When a peptide injection stimulates collagen production, it can help enhance your skin’s vitality, improving texture, firmness, and the appearance of wrinkles.
“Certain peptides expedite wound healing and tissue regeneration, proving beneficial in addressing scars and overall skin well-being,” Dr. Henry says. There are also peptides that can be used for treating hair loss by activating the follicles.
Outside of beauty, certain peptides offer benefits like muscle development and weight management. Ozempic is a type of peptide that works in this manner and has boomed in popularity recently.
Read the rest of the original article on Pop Sugar.