Copper Peptides & Beard Growth
In this article, I've taken into account several studies that suggest Copper Peptides may promote beard growth. Needless to say, I am no medical consultant, cosmetic scientist, or anything of the sort. This is simply my gathering of relevant information about this topic. Enjoy!
Copper peptides are small protein fragments of amino acids that have a very high affinity for copper ions. The human peptide and the most popular peptide is GHK-Cu, which we will be focusing on.
Copper peptides are primarily used for cosmetic purposes, such as anti-acne, and anti-wrinkling, due to their skin remodeling effects. This skin remodeling effect is the process that removes damaged proteins and older cells from the skin, producing newer and refined skin cells and growth factors. The skin remodeling effects of the copper peptides are what make this topical treatment very attractive for promoting healthier and younger looking skin, but an interesting off label use is hair growth. Yep, hair growth.
Mediated by increased collagen production, increased hair follicle size, proliferation of keratinocyte, promotion of certain growth factors, and stimulated blood flow, GHK-Cu Copper peptides are an attractive natural way to encourage new and healthy hair growth. These effects have been examined and supported through some studies, but as the saying always goes "more studies are need to better support these findings". Similarly, there exists many successful anecdotal reports on copper peptides for hair/beard growth on multiple hair-loss focused forums.
Minoxidil being the most widely accepted and one of two FDA approved hair growth treatments, shares key mechanisms of hair growth with copper peptides. These skin-remodeling copper peptides (SRCPs) by itself have shown promising hair growth effects, and have also been compared to Minoxidil's hair growth effects.
A very popular and effective regime in the beard growth community is:
Angiogenesis:
Angiogenesis, or "the development of new blood vessels", is a major effect of CPs through its proangiogenic growth factors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) are two very significant growth factors that are involved in hair growth. These growth factors create new blood cells, which deliver nutrients and androgens to the hair follicle. These blood flow promoting effects are significant to Minoxidil's effectiveness in growing hairs.
Collagen Production:
Having a sufficient amount of collagen in the hair shaft, strengthens the hair follicles and improves hair growth. A clinical study compared the production of collagen after using copper peptides, vitamin C, and Retin-A and found that GHK Cu copper peptides had the most significant collagen production results.
Keratinocyte Proliferation:
This study found that copper peptides "strongly increase keratinocyte proliferation." Keratinocytes are basically epidermal cells that produce keratin. And keratin is the protein that hair is made of.
To date, there is no evidence that copper peptides cause damage to DNA, behave as hormone disruptors, or contribute to organ system toxicity. However allergic reactions can occur and an excess of copper in the body can have its side effects.
Once-twice a day application should be safe.
Lastly, one piece of information not to avoid discussing is the fact that CPs can inhibit DHT production. And DHT is the androgen responsible for male secondary sexual characteristics, such as beard growth. So it is contradictory to inhibit this androgen that is in itself responsible for facial hair growth.
However, the science at hand does not suggest how DHT inhibition can effect, or slow, beard growth. Many people report having no differences in their beard growth rate while using potent DHT blockers (like many beard oils on the market that are full of them).
Personally I would not worry to much about this effect, given that CPs have other very attractive effects that can promote beard growth.
With all that said, copper peptides offer a promising solution for fixing up your beard patches and encouraging new beard growth. Of course these findings are not conclusive, and many report successful and unsuccessful results from using this ingredient. But it is safe to say that you most likely will not experience any side effects, and that even if hair growth were not to occur from the use of this ingredient, the benefits of collagen production provide an attractive benefit.