Are there any dangers associated with the use of peptides?

Peptides are small-sized proteins.They are composed ofchains of amino acids (aa)linked together throughpeptide bonds. In nature, there are approximately 500amino acids; however, only 20 are present in the human body. These can be combined to create a wide variety of molecules, referred to asproteins (with a molecular mass greater than 10,000 Daltons, which is about 100 aa)orpeptides (less than 100 aa).

When applied topically, peptides are most commonly used for their activity in diminishing the appearance of wrinkles. They are capable of triggering a signalling cascade and stimulating the production of collagen and elastin. These fibrous proteins present in the dermis provide flexibility and firmness to the skin, but their content in the skin tends to decrease over the years. Moreover, certain peptides can also boost the production of hyaluronic acid for a hydrated, plump and smoother skin. Furthermore, certain peptides like pea peptides are incorporated into cosmetic formulas to stimulate hair growth, but also other types of hair such as eyelashes and eyebrows.

Peptides can be identified in I.N.C.I. lists through their Greek qualifying prefixes. For instance, di-, tri-, tetra-, pentapeptides refer to peptides of 2, 3, 4, and 5 amino acids in length, and so on. There are many variations: tetrapeptide-2, acetyl tetrapeptide-15, hexapeptide-2, acetyl tetrapeptide-9, alanyl glutamine, acetyl tetrapeptide-11, acetyl hexapeptide-1, carnosine, cyclopeptide-5, and so on...