Collagen and peptide therapy roles in skin elasticity and aging

Collagen is the body's most abundant protein, providing structural support for skin, bones, cartilage, and connective tissues. While the body continuously produces collagen using amino acids from dietary proteins and essential nutrients like Vitamin C, Zinc, and Copper, production naturally declines with age. Factors such as UV exposure, smoking, and poor nutrition can further accelerate collagen breakdown.

Peptide therapy has emerged as a method in aesthetic medicine to address declining skin elasticity. Peptides act as biological messengers; for example, the copper-binding tripeptide GHK-Cu has been shown in laboratory research to promote collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycan production.

To aid absorption, hydrolyzed collagen supplements, often called collagen peptides, are broken down into smaller protein fragments. When consumed, these are digested into amino acids that the body can then use to synthesize new proteins.